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REPORT 


OF AN 


EXAMINATION 


OF THE 



JEFFERSON COUNTY ,, 0 ., 


BY 

A 

PROFS. B. SILLIMAN, JR. AND J. A. PORTER, 

o 

OF YALE COLLEGE. * 


MAY, 1855. 


* 


» i » 

'«* 

NEW HAVEN: 

T. J. STAFFORD, PRINTER. 

■ ■ t 


1855 . 







TH 

'&3S+7 


r 







TRANSFER 

J.3 

OGT 31 1944 

iSanai NM«ap<«Mi» 

Itotfeni?*' m- 









mv/a /yru*? 


REPORT. 


--♦♦♦- 

To the Officers and Shareholders of the Ohio Diamond Coed. 

Company. 

Gentlemen :— 

At the request of some of the largest proprietors in your 
Company, we have lately visited and examined the Coal and 
Iron lands, Coal openings, and other properties, belonging to 
your Company. There are two distinct estates, distant some 
four miles from each other, both in Jefferson county, Ohio, and 
both on the Ohio river. The upper property is situated at the 
point of junction, where the Big Yellow Creek meets the Ohio; 
the lower estate is about four miles below this point, also on 
the Ohio. 

A glance at the map of the United States will show that at 
this point the Ohio river makes a far-reaching north westerly 
sweep, and carries its waters within rather less than one hun¬ 
dred miles of Lake Erie at Cleveland. By this physical con¬ 
formation not only are the interests of social and commercial 
intercourse greatly promoted between the shores of all the great 
lakes and the valley of the Mississippi, but the most valuable 
part of the great Western extension of the Appalachian Coal 
Field is laid open to navigable waters and lines of railway 
communication. By this natural and most direct channel of 
intercourse, following the valley of the Yellow Creek to its 
mouth, and the Ohio above and below, the Cleveland and 



4 


Pittsburg Railway lias been constructed, connecting Lake Erie 
on the one hand with Pittsburg and the East, and on the other 
with Wheeling and Cincinnati. 

These great and permanent natural advantages of position 
would of themselves ensure at no distant day a prosperons com¬ 
mercial and manufacturing town at or near one of the two 
points now held by your Company. But when to these advan¬ 
tages of geographical and commercial position are added the 
great and controlling elements of Coal and Iron in boundless 
quantity and of excellent quality, it is easy to see that the 
Ohio Diamond Coal Company, in holding the select points both 
of real estate and mineral value and river frontage, is sure to 
meet by the regular and progressive development of the 
country at large, and of its own resources in particular, any 
reasonable degree of wealth and prosperity which the most 
sanguine expectations of its stockholders may anticipate. 

Such is the general geographical and commercial position 
of your estates in Jefferson county. Let us examine the upper 
property more particularly. 

This property is situated on the left bank of the Yellow 
Creek and of the Ohio river, and corners near the mouth of the 
creek where a small stream called Block House run (famous 
in Logan’s wars) enters the creek. The line of your property 
follows a H. W. course up this river at its eastern boundary, 
about two miles, until it meets a small cross valley, where, 
turning to the West, it follows the course of another small 
affluent of Yellow Creek, to its junction with the same, near 
the bridge of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railway over this 
stream. Thence to the mouth of the YYllow Creek the riobt 
bank of that stream is the boundary of the property. The 
area contained within these limits embraces between 500 and 
600 acres of land, being in fact a well formed symmetrical hill 


5 


or mountain covered with a dense growth of hard wood timber 
and rising to the estimated height of about 900 feet. Not 
one acre of this property is waste land to the Company; the 
whole of it is underlaid by workable beds of Coal. The flats, 
although narrow, are sufficient for a village, manufactories and 
landings, while the whole water front upon the creek (the bed of 
the stream belonging to the Company) is as admirably situated 
as can well be imagined for the delivery of coal by gravity 
from the openings of the beds to boats and barges on the 
water or to freight wagons upon the railway. The whole 
of this point is flanked by the railway track and the switches 
bring the freight wagons directly under the coal shutes at the 
pits’ mouths. 

The whole eastern boundary of the property on Block House 
run, is also as well situated as could be desired for coal open¬ 
ings, should it at any time be deemed desirable to connect that 
part of the property with the river frontage by a tram road. 
In this connection it is also proper to remark, that the projected 
line of railway destined to connect Ashtabula with the Ohio, 
passes down the valley of Block House run. Should this 
work at any future time be completed your Company will have 
a third outlet to their property, enabling them to deliver coal 
on Lake Erie some sixty miles east of Cleveland. 

Thus by natural and artificial channels of commerce without 
cost to the Company, its property is brought into the best 
possible relation to two great markets, the Northern and the 
Southern, to the great lakes and Canada on the one hand, 
and the steam marine and commercial cities of the Ohio and 
Mississippi on the other. Is the Ohio at any time (and it is 
always so in summer) impassable for your barges, Cleveland, 
Buffalo, Toronto, Detroit and Chicago are open to your coal. 
Is Lake Erie frozen, or are its markets supplied, you have two 




6 

of the best landings on the Ohio river, where steamers can 
always take in coal, and your barges and steam tugs, safely 
moored in your own deep and quiet pool in Yellow Creek, 
are ready at a moment’s notice to take the earliest swell of a 
freshet and glide down to Cincinnati, Louisville, and other 
Southern ports, with every advantage possessed by the most 
favorably situated openings on the Ohio or its tributaries, and 
with a gain of about two hundred miles in distance over the 
coal boats of the Alleghany and Monongahela, hitherto the 
chief sources of Southern supply. 

We are informed that a responsible party stands ready to 
contract for the delivery of your coal at Cincinnati for fifty 
cents per tun, whenever the river is open to this navigation, 
furnishing himself with barges and steam power for this pur¬ 
pose. As the cost of freight by railroad to Cleveland can never 
be reckoned at less than three times this amount, (viz, $1.50 per 
tun,) it is plainly the interest of the Company to run its coal 
to the Southern markets whenever navigation will allow of its 
being done. Most fortunately for your interests, the seasons 
for these two markets are so arranged by unchangeable natural 
laws, that when the one is open the other is closed, and vice 
versa. Only those acquainted with the river trade can fully 
appreciate this advantage. 

THE COAL AND ITS POSITION. 

When w T e remember that not less than 150,000 square miles 
are embraced within the geological boundaries of the great 
Appalachian and other Coal fields of the United States, it is 
plain that the value of any particular portion of so wide an 
area must depend entirety upon its comparative advantages of 
position—geologically, geographically and commercially'—and 
still more if possible upon the quality and abundance of its 


7 

workable beds of coal. Those who have turned their attention 
to the examination of the coal measures of the Ohio valley 
are fully aware how seldom it is that we can find more than 
one or two of the essential features of a good coal property 
embraced in any one portion. If the beds are regular, thick 
and well covered, they are either too remote from navigable 
waters or means of transportation, or the dip of the strata is 
such that artificial drainage is necessary. In other situations 
the cover is too thin or is so much cut down that no sufficient 
spread of sound coal can be found. 

Again, as is true of the whole peninsula of Michigan and 
much of northern Indiana and Illinois, and some parts of 
Ohio, the coal measures are entirely beneath the line of natural 
drainage, or where they do come within reach, the coal is of 
inferior quality from want of sufficient cover, and the presence 
of much sulphuret of iron. In this connection we may 
remark that the price current of Chicago the last w r eek of 
April quotes your coal at $8.50 per tun, while the coal of 
openings in Illinois within one hundred miles of Chicago, is 
quoted at $5.50. 

The coal measures in your property are seven in number, as 
shown on the section and map prepared by Professor Forrest 
Shepherd, and appended to this report. This map, so far as 
we are able to decide from our somewhat hasty examination, 
is correct in its essential features, and the order of stratifica¬ 
tion is correctly represented. We did not measure all the 
minor beds of coal, nor all the intermediate shales, clays and 
sandstones, nor could this have been accomplished without 
making numerous fresh sections on the face of the hill, for 
which we had not time. But we did measure the chief and 
most important numbers of the series, and are happy to con¬ 
firm the cautions and carefully considered statements of Pro¬ 
fessor Shepherd. 


8 


The dip of the whole system of beds in this hill is southeast 
at the angle of about 25 or 30 feet in a mile. This angle 
is quite enough for efficient drainage and for the easy descent 
of the coal by gravity, aided by animal power, to the shutes. 

How happy this circumstance of natural drainage is for the 
success of your enterprise, let those declare whose misfortune 
it is to work coal on the other side of the water shed. 

The whole thickness of coal above water line in this moun¬ 
tain, (divided between the seven beds,) is nearly or quite 30 
feet or ten yards. Of this, it is safe to reckon seven yards or 
twenty-one feet as workable. 

The three beds most favorably situated for immediate use 
are 1st, The “ Shepherd vein,” rather less than three feet; 2nd, 
the “Ray vein,” (next above it,) about four feet, (showing five 
feet in some places,) and 3d, the great u Diamond bed,” over 
eight feet. The floor of the latter bed is about 80 feet above 
the Railroad. These three beds have been well proved and the 
coals are regularly sent to market. Some more particular 
notice of each of these may be expected, and especially of the 
great bed. 

X 

t 

THE GREAT DIAMOND BED. 

This we believe to be the same as the great ten foot bed of 
the Pittsburg region, and it is probably also the great bed of 
the Cumberland and other bituminous coal districts. Its floor 
on your property is a heavy bedded sandstone, 20 feet in thick¬ 
ness, forming the cover of roof of the “ Ray vein,” the next 
seam below. Ho under clay or stratum of soft and yielding 
material of any kind whatsoever, is found between this coal 
and its sandstone floor. The coal comes down with a sharp, 
well defined line upon this floor, which is as clean and smooth 
as a well dressed flagstone, and as far as galleries have been 


9 


driven upon it, nearly a mile in all a perfect uniformity of level 
and of character is preserved. The roof is a heavy bedded 
bituminous slate, four to six feet thick, sometimes so silicious 
and hard as to resemble a sandstone. It is not less uniform in 

its position than the floor, and appears so far to be equally per- 

♦ 

manent and unchanging. The advantage of this permanent 
floor and roof, as respects cheapness of mining, safety and 
cleanliness, cart only be appreciated by those who have been 
familiar with the expense and inconveniences and dangers of 
those mines where a soft under clay allows the weight of the 
superincumbent strata to descend, crushing the pillars of coal 
and wood stantions left to support the roof, and soon effectually 
closing up the avenues of the mine. This “ creeping,” as it is 
technically called, will never be experienced in the Diamond 
bed. The system of work adopted by Captain Roberts, your 
intelligent mining director, is to take out the coal in chambers 
seven yards square, leaving columns of three yards square at 
equal distances. In one situation in the mine where the inter¬ 
section of tram roads rendered it convenient to do so, one or 

j 

more of these columns has been removed, and as a precaution 
timber has been set up in its place. But we observed that 
there was no pressure upon the timbers, which still yielded to 
the blows of the hammer, thus showing conclusively the strength 
of the roof and floor. 

The coal in this great bed is divided at the height of abou^. 
three feet from the floor, by a seam of pyritous shale less than 
one inch in thickness. Nothing could be more conveniently 
situated for the ease and rapidity of working. Upon this shale 
the collier bears in with his pick, thus making a well situated 
fissure, by which means the full force of his blast is felt in 
throwing down in large masses the upper division of the coal— 
the lower division serving him as a bench, for the convenient 


10 


removal of the upper until in its turn it is raised by gun pow¬ 
der from beneath, and the whole contents of the seam are 
made available with the least possible waste of coal. The 
great facility of mining offered by these uncommon advan¬ 
tages of position and structure will enable you to take out this 
bed at the minimum price of coal mining—a price very 
materially less than that which this Company has hitherto paid. 
Permit us here to suggest with reference to the future working of 
this great bed and its associates, the importance of an accurate 
topographical and mining survey of this whole property, with 
a view of determining with accuracy the best position for the 
great gallery of the mine, by the judicious placing of which 
the best drainage, ventilation and transportation of the whole 
material may be effected. 

Such a gallery should be wide enough for two or three tram 
tracks, and should be a trunk or base line, to which all lateral 
galleries should drain. It is evident that the main axis of the 
hill should be the line of direction for such a gallery, as being 
at once the lowest point for drainage, and furnishing the short¬ 
est outlet for the contents of the labyrinth of chambers which 
in time must open upon it. Whether the present main entrance 
is placed in the best position, or whether it may not be best to 
have two or more such entrances converging to the axis of the 
hill, are open questions which can only be satisfactorily an¬ 
swered by such a survey as we suggest. 

An additional advantage of such a survey would be, that in 
determining the contour line of the hill at the several levels of 
the successive beds of coal, where they outcrop, an accurate 
estimate will be reached of the amount of available coal in 
each bed, and the thickness of its cover, thus giving the data 
for a reliable opinion of the grand total of a fossil fuel, which 
lies in your property above w T ater level. Until such a survey 


11 


has furnished the means of accurate statement, all calculations 
to this end must he regarded as only rough approximations. 
Whatever exact amount of coal such a survey may show to 
exist in your property, not the smallest doubt can be felt, from 
a cursory examination, that the gross available quantity is to 
be estimated at many millions of tons. Nor is there room for 
any other opinion than that the several seams enumerated are 
continuous in and under the whole property, and of the aver¬ 
age thickness specified. 

The character of the coal of the Diamond bed is very uni¬ 
form : it is hard and compact, weathers well, and is firm even 
on its outcrop, where it is usual to find coal reduced to powder. 
It showed occasional spangles of [sulphuret of iron, but not 
more, we should say, than is usual in the best coals of the bitu¬ 
minous regions. The seams or joints in this coal show also 
occasional coatings of calcareous spar or carbonate of lime. It 
bears transportation well, and yields a very small amount of 
“ slack” at the sliutes. 

It burns with a clear, free blaze, makes a strong and sound 
coke of about one-third greater bulk than the original coal; its 
density, in its average state, is 1.314, making a cubic yard, or 
27 cubic feet, of it weigh 2,216 pounds. 

Its power of absorption of water is equal to 0.639 per cent., 
as determined by our own experiments. 

It yields by coking 4.5 feet of gas to the pound of coal: 
this gas has a density of .5213,* and burns with moderate brill¬ 
iancy, equal in a fish-tail burner consuming four cubic feet per 
hour, to 3.6 Judd’s sperm candles, (sixes.) The measurements 


* This density is probably too high, owing to the presence of carbonic acid, 
derived from carbonate of lime, contained in the seams of the coal, and not 
perfectly separated by our means of purification. 



12 


of the comparative illuminating power of the several coals of 
your property have been made with a very accurate pho¬ 
tometer. 

Its composition is one hundred parts as follows: 

Volatile matter expelled by coking ) ^ pq p er cen ^ 

(Of which .639 per cent, is water,) ) 

Carbon,.52.51 “ 

Ashes,.4.45 “ 

100.00 per cent. 

Coke yielded by this trial .... 56.96 

THE “ RAY BED” 

Is immediately under the “ Diamond,” being separated from it 
by the above named bed of firm sandstone, equal to about 20 
feet in thickness. The roof of the Ray bed is, therefore, sand¬ 
stone, and its floor is limestone, with a narrow strip of fire clay. 
This bed is usually spoken of as being four feet in thickness, 
but this is a very moderate statement, as we saw it in more 
than one place considerably exceeding this thickness. 

This is an exceedingly beautiful coal to the eye, being richly 
painted with dark purple and violet tints, rendering it worthy of 
the name, “ Peacock Coal,” as it is sometimes called. This 
color does not appear to be due to a film of sulphuret of iron, 
as some have suggested; but is more probably attributed by 
Dr. Hayes, the distinguished chemist, of Boston, to a thin var¬ 
nish of crenate of lime, a salt, resulting from the action of at¬ 
mospheric waters upon the soil. It has been suggested by those 
whose opinion is entitled to consideration, that this is the best 
bed in the whole series for the manufacture of iron. We do 
not hazard an opinion on this point, since in our judgment 
actual trial alone is competent to decide a question to the 
solution of which so many delicate practical considerations 






13 


are affixed. In breaking large masses of this coal broad surf¬ 
aces of u mineral charcoal” are visible, giving it, together 
with its brilliant peacock hues, a very well characterized ap¬ 
pearance. In point of strength to resist transportation, the 
Diamond bed appears to us to be superior to this. We are of 
opinion that in the market this coal will be very favorably 
regarded by consumers, as well for its intrinsic qualities as for 
its very beautiful appearance. 

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE “ RAY COAL.” 

Density 1.303, giving 2,198 lbs. as the weight of a cubic 
yard. Its power of absorption is equal to 0.75 per cent. By 
analysis it yields 

Volatile matter including water . . 43.76 per cent. 


Carbon. 48.70 “ 

Ash..7.54 “ 

100.00 per cent. 

Coke in.“ ft)* 2 


Tlie coke is equal to one and one-third bulks. 

One pound of this coal yields four cubic feet of gas, having 
a density of .4928, and an illuminating power equal to nine of 
Judd’s patent sixes.* 

* We would here state, that wishing to obtain, as nearly as possible, results 
which should correspond with the actual experience of the Gas House, we have 
employed in these trials of the illuminating value of the coals tested an exper¬ 
imental gas retort of iron, heated as in the usual gas oven, and holding one 
pound or more of each coal. The retort was in each case heated to the 
proper degree before introducing the weighed charge of raw coal. 

The gases produced were purified and cooled as nearly as possible in a man¬ 
ner similar to the existing practice of gas houses, and the product was meas¬ 
ured by passing through a dry gas meter, reading to one-tenth of a cubic foot. 
After passing this meter the gas was received in a holder, ready for further use. 
The density was determined in an exhausted globe of glass holding 133 grains 









14 


THE “ SHEPHERD VEIN” 

Rests about 50 feet below the last described bed. It is a very 
bright, handsome coal, and much esteemed as a gas coal. It 
is, perhaps, more friable than the Diamond bed, but is stronger 
than the “ Ray.” The bed is rather thin, and probably on 
this account it would be hardly advisable to work it for coal 
alone, although beds of three feet are not unfrequently 
worked with profit. But it happens that immediately over this 
coal is a good belt of kidney iron ore, while immediately under 
it lies the great bed of fire clay. 

In the progress of development of the property it will be 
requisite to take out large quantities of both these materials, 
and especially of the iron ore, thus rendering the Shepherd 
vein as easy to work as its thicker associates. 

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF THE “ SHEPHERD VEIN ” COAL. 

Density 1.309, giving 2,208 lbs. as the weight of a cubic 
yard. Its power of absorption is equal to 0.53 per cent. By 
analysis it yields 

Yolatile matter including water . . 40.53 per cent. 

Carbon fixed. 57.32 “ 

Ash.2.15 “ 

100.00 per cent. 

Coke. 59.47 “ 


of atmospheric air. These trials were made under average states of pressure 
and moisture, and with observation of the state of the barometer and ther¬ 
mometer. 

The purifying arrangements employed did not prove sufficient to remove all 
the sulphuretted hydrogen and carbonic acid, and undoubtedly better gas can 
be made from the coals in the large way than we obtained, especially from the 
Diamond coal. The Shepherd vein, from the facility with which it cokes, and 
the large volume of rich gas it yields, is, in our opinion, the best gas coal we 
have any knowledge of, excepting the Hillsboro asphaltic coal. 








15 


The coke is equal to one and one-third hulks. 

One pound of this coal yields five cubic feet of gas, having 
a density of 5.086, and an illuminating power equal to 8.4 
Judd’s patent sixes. 

In order to furnish the means of comparison between the 
coals of the Ohio Diamond Coal Company and some other 
well known American and European coals, as respects chemical 
composition and illuminating power, we have made a calcula¬ 
tion of the Newcastle bituminous, now in use by the New 
Haven City Gas Company, and of the celebrated Hillsboro 
(N. B.) asphaltic coal: 

TABULAR STATEMENT 


OF COALS OF OHIO DIAMOND COAL COMPANY, AS COMPARED WITH OTHERS. 


Name of Coal. 

Specif. 

Grav. 

Weight 
of Cubic 
Yard. 

Ash. 

Coke. 

Vola¬ 

tile 

Mat¬ 

ter. 

Water 

Car¬ 

bon. 

Cubic 
feet of 
gas to 
1 lb. 

Specif. 
Grav. 
of gas. 

Equal 
to of 
Judd’s 
Sixes. 

Diamond. 

1.314 

2,216 

4.45 

56.96 

43.04 

0.639 

52.61 

4.5 

52» 12 

3.6 

Ray. 

1.303 

2,198 

7.54 

56.24 

43.76 

0.75 

48.70 

4 . 

49128 

9 

Shepherd. 

1.309 

2,208 

2.15 

59.47 

40.63 

0.53 

57.32 

5 r 

50J86 

8.4 

Newcastle. 

1.277 

2,154 


69.59 

30.41 



3.8 


5.4 

Hillsboro. 

1.129 

1,905 

2.22 

28.26 

61.74 


26.04 

6 


21.8 


The gas from the Newcastle coal, as found in the pipes of the 
New Haven Gas Company at this date, equals 5.4 of the stand¬ 
ard candles when burned in a four feet Scotch tip fish tail burner. 

The lowest Coal indicated on the section is seen in the Kail¬ 
way cut near the lower bridge, and is completely above drain¬ 
age. It appears to us to be about four feet in thickness ; we 
saw it, however, only in its out crop and cannot speak of its 
quality. If Professor Shepherd’s opinion is well founded that 
this bed is identical with the Pennsylvania Coal known in 
market as the “ Briar Hill Coal,” we would respectfully suggest 
that it is worth while proving the quality of this bed on your 
property, since should it turn out to be a coal of equal quality 





























16 


with that named, it will be remembered that this coal hears in 
the western markets the highest price, being quoted at Chicago 
one dollar more per ton than any other coal. 

We cannot doubt that when your coals have been more 
fully tested by consumers, that their price, already high, will 
be ranked with the most favorite specimens now known. 

Of the three upper beds of coal upon your property, we 
cannot speak from personal examination, although the points 
of their occurrence were indicated to us. 

From what has been said of the quality and abundance of 
the coals on your upper property it will be seen that regarded 
only as a coal property it must, from its remarkable advantages 
of situation, prove amply remunerative to the shareholders, 
if it is worked even with tolerable energy and skill. 

But the property has other value besides its coal. The 
chief of these is, beyond doubt, its Iron Ores / although the 
lire clay, limestone, sandstone and timber, are also very val¬ 
uable. 

THE IRON ORES. 

These all belong to the class of calcareous ores or Carbonate 
of Iron, with various proportions of carbonates of lime and 
magnesia, alumina, &c. Such are always the iron ores of the 
coal formations. There are four seams of iron ore upon your 
property, one below the lowest visible coal seams, one immedi¬ 
ately over the Shepherd coal, one of very valuable calcareous 
ore not far below the “ Bay vein,” and above which occurs a 
stratum of fossiliferous limestone. The last bed of iron ore 
rests upon the uppermost coal seam save one. 

Less development of these beds of iron ore have been made 
than of the coal seams. 

Two of them which we have examined at several points are 


17 


abundantly stocked with nodular iron in masses from the size 
of a kidney to those which will weigh from 100 to 200 pounds. 

ANALYSES OF IRON ORES. 

BAND IRON ORE. 

Carbonate of Iron, 88.05 p. c.=42.51 p. c. of Metallic Iron. 
Alumina, . . . 2.68 “ 

Carbonate of Lime, 2.66 “ 

Silicic Acid, . . 5.85 “ 

Water,.76 “ 

100.00 p. c. 

Sp. gr. 3.592. 

BALL IRON ORE. 

Carbonate of Iron., 84.72 p. c.=40.90 p. c. of Metallic Iron. 
Alumina, . . . 6.12 “ 

Carbonate of Lime, 2.43 “ 

Silicic Acid, . . . 5.82 “ 

Water,.0.91 “ 

100.00 p. c. 

Sp. gr. 3.460. 

The band or stratum which yields the so called calcareous 
ore appears to us peculiarly valuable, since the ore, as far as we 
are able to judge, contains sufficient lime to flux itself. 

Taken in connection with the coal, limestone and fire clay, 
these ores must be esteemed of great value. 

We broke very many of the nodules with a view of deter¬ 
mining the presence of other metals or of sulphur, but we did 
not find a trace of anything but iron. 

It is not easy to assign any reason why iron cannot be made 

here as cheaply as anywhere in the United States. Here every 

2 




18 


/ 

natural facility that can be named is focalized. An abundant 
supply of cheap agricultural products is at hand, and the price 
of all the necessaries of life is as low as can be found any¬ 
where. Nor is there much reason to fear any considerable 
increase for many years in the various items of subsistence, 
since by the river and various railroads agricultural produce 
of every description can be delivered here as cheaply as at 
any point in the whole West. By way of the Cleveland and 
Pittsburg Railroad, the rich specular iron ores of Lake Supe¬ 
rior can be laid down at your mines at very remunerative 
prices. These ores are now carried by the Sharon Iron Com¬ 
pany from their mines at Marquette, to their furnaces in Penn¬ 
sylvania to the great advantage of the proprietors. 

.Recent developments on the north shores of Lake Superior 
lead us to anticipate that an unlimited supply of rich specular 
iron may be expected from sources not before known, and im¬ 
mediately on navigable waters—thus ensuring to the furnaces 
on the Ohio, a steady supply of these ores at a minimum price. 
It is by a judicious use of these rich ores with the more fusi¬ 
ble ores of the coal measures that the skillful iron Master is 
able to vary the product of his furnaces to meet the demands 
of commerce. With this resource at hand it is possible to 
manufacture spring and blister steel. It remains to be deter¬ 
mined by actual trial, whether any unforeseen difficulty lies in 
the way of employing the raw coal of your mines in the high 
furnace with a hot blast. 

Should this trial when made prove as successful as we have 
reason to believe it will be, who will undertake to limit the 
future developments of the iron trade in all its branches at this 
point ? We will only add in this connection, what is plain on 
the least reflection, that the iron furnaces situated in the valley 
of the Ohio will have always in their favor the cost of freight 


19 


from the various Atlantic ports to the Ohio—which of itself is 
no inconsiderable margin for a profitable business. 

In addition to what has already been said respecting the 
mineral and other advantages of your property, it should be 
borne in mind that it is situated in one of the earliest settled 
parts of Ohio, the water is soft sandstone water, there are sev¬ 
eral good dwelling houses and numerous other buildings on 
the farm, which is in excellent tilth and furnished with good 
orchards of select fruit. The passengers by steamer also meet 
the trains of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad upon your 
property. 

The health of this region is as good as any part of the 
United States—no intermittent fevers are known and there are 
no prevalent diseases of any sort; without this circumstance 
all the other advantages we have enumerated, would be of far 
less value than they are now believed to be. 

It appears highly probably that under your whole property 
there exists a powerful bed of coal never yet explored, so far 
as we can learn, at any point on the Ohio. It is in evidence 
from the records of the various salt wells bored at numerous 
points on this part of the Ohio, (one of which exists on your 
property,) that at different depths, according to the nature of 
the surface, a bed of coal from 11 to 12 feet thick was passed 
through. It is not likely that this evidence, drawn from numer- 
our independent sources, can be quite erroneous, and as on 
your property this bed is reported at the moderate depth of 
only 40 feet below T the level of the river, it will be no great 
undertaking at some future day to test it by a shaft. 

The existence of salt w T ater at this point on the Ohio is a fact 
of some interest, as the experience of past years has shown the 
practicability of manufacturing salt upon your property. It is 
also a fact of some interest that jets of illuminating gas are 


20 


obtained at a certain depth in the perforation of the salt wells, 
a circumstance which perhaps may be availed of hereafter for 
the cheap illumination of dwellings and manufactories, as has 
been done at Fredonia, E". Y. and at other places. 

LOWER PROPERTY. 

The lower property belonging to the. Company is situated 
about four miles below the mouth of Big Yellow Creek, and 
on the same side of the Ohio river as the upper property 
already described. 

The Wheeling branch of the Cleveland railroad passes di¬ 
rectly through it from end to end, and the only ground appro¬ 
priate for the station house and switches of the railroad is 
within the territory of the Company. On the southern end of 
this lower territory is one of the oldest ferries on the Ohio river, 
and the landing for steamers at all stages of water is perfectly 
good. The fine level plain between the river and the coal hills 
is far above extreme high water in the Ohio, and this plain is 
from 1000 to 1500 feet in width. The amount of land embraced 
in this portion of the Company’s property is about 350 acres. 

The hills containing the beds of coal and iron ore are not 
quite so high as the hills at the upper property, but from a 
single barometrical measurement we estimated it at not less 
than 650 feet. 

Much less has been done upon this property in developing 
its beds of coal and iron than has been done in the other case. 
The bed which, from its position and the character of the coal, 
we inferred to be the Diamond bed, was at the point where we 
saw it over five feet in thickness and of excellent quality. 

9 

The lower stratum of iron ore is also well developed, and we 
recognize also the position of some other coal beds, and were 
convinced of the regularity of the succession in the series 


21 


being the same here as in the upper property—iron nodules 
occur in it in the greatest abundance. We also found on the 
hill at an elevated position (where it was to be expected) the 
great belt of calcareous iron ore so much esteemed above, and 
in abundant quantity. 

We spent some time in wandering over this property in 
company with Prof. Shepherd, and the result of observations 
was the conviction that the Company possess here a very 
valuable resource for the future, either from its development 
or sale to another Company. 

Here undoubtedly is the place for a prosperous manufactur¬ 
ing town to spring up. There is ample space of level ground, 
excellent water, with abundant coal, iron, timber and building 
stone, while the river and railroad offer the choice of means of 
transport. 

As a coal property we prefer the upper place, but for the 
site of a village and the growth of a great manufacturing town, 
the lower property appears to us to offer peculiar advantages. 

It remains for the Company to consider whether they will 
retain it with a view to its future development by their own 
industry, or whether they will seek a purchaser for it. 

It is proper to add more explicitly than we have before done, 
that the whole of the upper property is now in good waricing 
order and capable with its present accommodations of turning 
out from 150 to 200 tons per day. As early as last fall the 
various entries already driven measured very nearly a mile, all 
on the coal, and since that time very considerable progress has 
been made. There are two inclines of 480 feet each, and a 
new switch for convenient loading of the Shepherd coal was 
in progress on the 1st of May. It is asserted by the mining 
captain, that he can now, taking the openings as they exist, 


22 


work one hundred and fifty miners, provided that the coal can 
be taken away from the openings. 

In conclusion we would express the high satisfaction we 
have experienced as the result of our examination of your 
truly valuable property—too valuable not to receive the best 
and most efficient development you can give it. 

Yours very respectfully, 

B. SILLIMAN, Jr., 

Professor of General and Applied Chemistry in Yale College. 

JOHN A. PORTER, 

Professor of Agricultural and Analytical Chemistry in Yale College. 


New Haven, May 15th, 1855. 


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Cood-Becf 

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very good. 

for Budding. 


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Lime- Stone 


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2.0inA Good 


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SLime Starve-' 


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Scored Stone' 


very good 


Lime Stone' 


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White Clay 


Sa nd Stone 


Slate, 


Coal 37 inches 


Great: Bed of 
Fire Clay 


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REPORT 


ON THE 


ROCS OIL, OR PETROLEUM, 


FROM 


VENANGO CO., PENNSYLVANIA, 


WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS USE FOR ILLUMINATION AND 

OTHER PURPOSES. 


BY B 



• SILLIMAN 

H 


? 


JB., 


PROF. OF GENERAL AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY, YALE COLLEGE. 


COPYRIGHT SECURED. 


NEW HAVEN: 

FROM J. H. BENHAM’S STEAM POWER PRESS. 

185 5. 








































■ 




































2 - 




The Supply of Oil. 

We cannot rely on the ocean for a supply of oil 
at all adequate to the demands for actual use , for, 

J notwithstanding the number of our whalers has 
been constantly increasing, the supply of whale 
oil has gradually fallen from 207,348 barrels in 
\ 1841 to 184,015 in 1856. and prices have bten en¬ 
hanced in proportion to the growing scarcity. 
The falling off in sperm oil" is from 159,303 in 
1841 to 72,649 in 1855. Even had there been no 
falling off in the quantity of oil procured from the 
whale, the increased demand for the requirements 
of railways, factories, &c., would exceed the 
means of supply. It has been estimated that a 
yearly consumption of 100,000 gallons of oil takes 
place on every 500 miles of the 25,000 miles of 
railway in operation in the United States. Va¬ 
rious expedients have been resorted to for the sup¬ 
ply of the deficiency, and oil has been manufac¬ 
tured from rosin, cotton seed, and other sub¬ 
stances, with success. Our pine lorests may no 
doubt be made to produce oil in large quantities. 

N ot less than eight factories have been put in. 
operation in this country within a short time, for 
the manufacture of oil from rosin, and another in 
Liverpool, Eng., on the same principle, which 
made, together, over 100,(00 barrels of oil last 
year. 

Until a recent period, the extraction of oils from 
coal has received but little attention, but now it 
is a well ascertained fact that all the rich bitu¬ 
minous coals are capable of yielding, by distilla¬ 
tion at a high temperature, large quantities of oil 
having many points of resemblance with naptha, 
which is the usual product of distilling petro¬ 
leum. Several large establishments have com¬ 
menced in the United States for the manufacture 
of this new product, and though some of them 
are alieady in operation, with promises of abun¬ 
dant success, it is not probable that the valuable 
properties of coal oil have yet reached their high¬ 
est development. The enormous and rapidly in¬ 
creasing consumption of oil by locomotives and 
other machinery,*greatly enhancing its cost, exerts 
a powerful influence in the prosecution of chemi¬ 
cal invf stigation in this direction. 

At Cloveport, Ky., on the Ohio river, are exten¬ 
sive new works, running twelve retorts night and 
day, containing from eight to ten tons of coal 
every tvrenty-four hours, and producing 750 gal¬ 
lons of crude oil. Re-distilled, this quantity 
yields 600 gallons of refined oils, viz : 125 gallons 
of benzole, 75 of naptha, 255 of lubricating oil; 
and 175 of oil for illuminating purposes. Benzole 
readily soils at $1 50 per gallon ; lubricating at 
SI 25 ; naptha and burning at 80 cents. Prepara¬ 
tions are making at Cloveport for the manufac¬ 
ture of a beautiful semi-transparent candle from 
the substance called “ parafine,” resembling fine 
spermaceti, and which is formed in pearly crys¬ 
tals in the dark oils of the last distillations, after 
they have cooled. The parafine, as remarked by 
Prof. Silliman, Jr., does not exist ready formed 
in the original crude product, but is a result of the 
high temperature employed in the process of dis¬ 
tillation, by which the elements are newly ar¬ 
ranged. It derives its name from the unalterable 
nature of the substance, under the most powerful 
chemical agents. The candles made from it are 
considered superior to sperm. The Cloveport Co. 
use the Breckinridge cannel, and it is said to pro¬ 
duce an illuminating oil equal to the best sperma¬ 
ceti, at a cost of about thirty cents per gallon—that 
of the coal being say six dollars per ton. 1 n noticing 
these facts the Louisville Journal recently said— 
“ If we have the best material for lighting the 
world—to say nothing of lubricating its wheels— 
we have something better than has yet been dis¬ 
covered in California.” The residuum from 
the last distillation makes the first quality of 
asphaltum, used for smearing vaults, &c. y now 
imported, and sold at thirty dollars per ton. 

The company above mentioned will add eigh¬ 
teen more retorts on the first of November next, 
increasing the capacity of. the works about two- 
thirds. Kerosene (or coal) oil works have been 
recently started on Newtown creek. L. I., where 
a large sum has been expended in their erection. 
They use American bituminous coals, which cost 
$12 or $15 per ton. So unexpectedly great has 
been the demand for the oil that the company has 
already commenced enlarging its works. At Dar¬ 
lington, Pa., there is a large establishment, which 
has-been in operation six months, and with such 
success that a lease has been taken of the coal 
mines at that place. At Willinmsburg, near this 
city, a man, named Mahoney, has been manufac¬ 
turing coal oil for some time past, making five 
barrels per week of superior benzole. 

These, so far as we can ascertain, embrace all 
the manufactOi ies now in this country; but they 
have multiplied very rapidly, considering the 
little attention which the subject has received. 
Benzole was first made from coal tar, but recent 
inventions have greatly facilitated its use, by im¬ 
proving its quality as well as by lessening its cost. 
Another circumstance in its favor is, that the dust 
or “slack” from rich veins may be converted 
into coke, and the volatile matter into benzole, 
oil, &c., at a remunerating profit; and if a por¬ 
tion of the volatile matter is allowed to remain in 
Ihe coke, the latter forms an excellent article of 
fuel, without dust or smoke.— .Tour, of Com. 


































s' 


















■ 




















REPORT. 


l 


Messrs. Eveleth , Bissell Reed , 

/ 

Gentlemen,— 

I herewith offer you the results of my somewhat ex¬ 
tended researches upon the Rock Oil, or Petroleum, from 
Venango County, Pennsylvania, which you have requested 
me to examine with reference to its value for economical 
purposes. 

Numerous localities, well known in different parts of the 
world, furnish an oily fluid exuding from the surface of the 
earth, sometimes alone in “ tar springs,” as they are called 
in the western U. S. ; frequently it is found floating upon the 
surface of water in a thin Aim, with rainbow colors, or in 
dark globules, that may, by mechanical means, be separated 
from the fluid on which it swims. 

In some places wells are sunk for the purpose of accumu¬ 
lating the product in a situation convenient for collection by 
pumping the water out. The oil exudes on the shores of 
Lakes and Lagoons, or rises from springs beneath the bed of 
Rivers. Such are the springs of Baku, in Persia, and the 
wells of Amiano, in the duchy of Parma, in Italy. The usual 
geological position of the rocks furnishing this natural pro¬ 
duct, is in the coal measures—but it is by no means confined 



. 

v ?/*. 

V , 

€ •* ’r » 

( 4 ) 

to this group of rocks, since it has been found in deposits 
much more recent, and also in those that are older—but in 
whatever deposits it may occur, it is uniformly regarded as 
a product of vegetable decomposition. Whether this de¬ 
composition has been effected by fermentation only, or by 
the aid of an elevated temperature, and distilled by heated 
vapor, is perhaps hardly settled. 

It is interesting, however, in this connection to remember, 
that the distillation, at an elevated temperature, of certain 
black bituminous shales in England and France, has furnish¬ 
ed large quantities of an oil having many points of resem¬ 
blance with Naphtha, the name given to this colorless oil, 
which is the usual product of distilling Petroleum. The 
very high boiling point of most of the products of the distil¬ 
lation of the Rock Oil from Venango County, Pa., would 
seem to indicate that it was a pyrogenic (fire produced) 
product. 

Bitumen, Asphaltum, Mineral Pitch, Chapapote, &c., &c., 
are names variously given to the more or less hard, black 
resinous substance which is produced usually from the expo¬ 
sure of Petroleum to the air, and is found either with or with¬ 
out the fluid Naphtha or Petroleum. The most remarkable 
examples of the occurrence of these substances so intimately 
connected with the history of Rock Oil, are the Lake Asphal- 
tites or the Dead Sea, so memorable in history, the well 
known Bitumen Lake of Trinidad, and the deposits of min¬ 
eral pitch or Chapapote in Cuba. In one of the provinces 
of India, vast quantities of Petroleum are annually produced, 
the chief consumption being local, for fuel and lights, but a 
portion is also exported to Europe for the production of 
Naphtha. In the United States, many points on the Ohio 


( 5 ) 

and its tributaries, are noted as producing this oil; nearly all 
of them within the coal measures. A detailed history of 
these various localities can be found recorded in books of 
science, and their repetition here would be out of place. 

General Characters of the Crude Product. 

The Crude oil, as is gathered on your lands, has a dark 
brown color, which, by reflected light, is greenish or bluish. 
It is thick even in warm weather—about as thick as thin 
molasses. In very cold weather it is somewhat more stiff, 
but can always be poured from a bottle even at 15° below 
zero. Its odor is strong and peculiar, and recalls to those 
who are familiar with it, the smell of Bitumen and Naphtha. 
Exposed for along time to the air, it does not thicken or 
form a skin on its surface, and, in no sense, can it be called 
a drying oil. The density of the Crude oil is 882, water 
being 1000. It boils only at a very high temperature, and 
yet it begins to give off a vapor at a temperature not greatly 
above that of boiling water. It takes fire with some diffi¬ 
culty, and burns with an abundant smoky flame. It stains 
paper with the appearance of ordinary fat oils, and feels 
smooth and greasy between the fingers. It is frequently 
used in its crude state to lubricate coarse machinery. In 

chemical characters, it is entirely unlike the fat oils. Most 

» 

of these characters are common to Petroleum from various 
places. In one important respect, however, the product of 
your lands differ from that obtained in other situations, that 
is, it does not, by continued exposure to the air, become hard 
and resinous like mineral pitch or bitumen. I have been in¬ 
formed by those who have visited the locality, that on the 
surface of the earth about the springs which furnish your oil, 


( 6 ) 


» 


there is no crust or deposit of this sort such as I have seen 
in other situations where Petroleum or mineral tar is flowing. 
This difference will be seen to be of considerable importance, 
as it is understood and represented that this product exists in 
great abundance upon your property, that it can be gathered 
wherever a well is sunk in the soil, over a great number of 
acres, and that it is unfailing in its yield from year to year. 
The question naturally arises, of what value is it in the arts, 
and for what uses can it be employed ? To enable you to 
answer these inquiries has been the object of my researches. 

Examination of the Oil. 

To determine what products might be obtained in the oil, 
a portion of it was submitted to fractional distillation.* The 
temperature of the fluid was constantly regulated by a ther¬ 
mometer, the heat being applied first by a water bath, and 
then by a bath of linseed oil. This experiment was found¬ 
ed upon the belief that the crude product contained several 
distinct oils, having different boiling points. The quantity 
of material used in this experiment, was 304 grammes. The 
thermometer indicated the degrees of the Centigrade scale, 
but, for convenience, the corresponding degrees of Fahren¬ 
heit’s scale are added. The water bath failed to distil any 
portion of the oil at 100'C. (=212^ Fah.) only a small quan¬ 
tity of acid water came over. An oil bath, (linseed oil,) was 
then substituted, and the temperature was regularly raised 
by slow degrees until distillation commenced. From that 
point the heat was successively raised by stages of ten de- 

* Fractional distillation is a process intended to separate various produets in 
mixture, and having unlike boiling points, by keeping the mixture contained in an 
alembic at regulated successive stages of temperature as long as there is any distil¬ 
late at a given point, and then raising the heat to another degree, &c. 






grees, allowing full time at each stage for complete distillation 
of all that would rise at that temperature before advancing 
to the next stage. The results of this tedious process are 
given in the annexed table—304 Grammes of Crude oil, sub¬ 
mitted to fractional distillation, gave : 

Temperature. Quantity. 

1st Product at 100°C.=2l2°Fah. (acid water,) 5 Gms. 

2d “ “ 140°C. to 150°C.=284° to 302°Fah. 26 “ 

3d “ “ 150°C. to 160°C.=302° to 320°Fah. 29 “ 

4th “ “ 160°C. to 170°C.=320° to 338'Fah. 38 “ 

5th “ “ 170°C. to 180°C.=338° to 356°Fah. 17 “ 

6th “ “ 180°C. to 200°C.==356° to 392°Fah. 16 “ 

7th “ “ 200°C. to 220°C.=392° to 428°Fah. 17 “ 

8th “ “ 220 C. to 270 C.=128° to 518Tah. 12 “ 


Whole quantity distilled by this method, . . 160 

Leaving residue in the retort, . . . 144 

Original quantity, ...... 304 

Product No. 1, as above remarked, was almost entirely 
water, with a few drops of colorless oil, having an odor simi¬ 
lar to the original fluid, but less intense. 

Product No. 2 was an oil perfectly colorless, very thin and 
limpid, and having an exceedingly persistent odor, similar to 
the crude oil, but less intense. 

Product No. 3 was tinged slightly yellow, perfectly trans¬ 
parent, and apparently as limpid as the 2d product, with the 
same odor. 

Product No. 4 was more decidedly yellowish than the last, 
but was in no other respect distinguishable from it. 

Product No. 5 was more highly colored, thicker in con¬ 
sistence, and had a decided empyreumatic odor. 

Product No. 6. This and the two subsequent products 
were each more highly colored and denser than the preced- 




( 8 ) 


ing. The last product had the color and consistency of honey, 
and the odor was less penetrating than that of the preceding 
oils. The mass of crude product remaining in the retort, 
(equal 47.4 per cent.,) was a dark, thick, resinous looking 
varnish, which was so stiff, when cold, that it could be in¬ 
verted without spilling. This showed no disposition to 
harden or skin over by exposure to the air. The distillation 
was arrested at this point in glass, by our having reached the 
limit of temperature for a bath of linseed oil. The density 
of the several products of this distillation, shows a progres- 


sive increase, 

No. 2, 

thus : 

• 


• 

density, .733 

No. 3, 




• 

“ .752 

No. 4, 


. 


• 

“ .766 

No. 5, 




• 

“ .776 

No. 6, 




♦ 

“ .800 

No. 7, 




• 

“ .848 

No. 8, 




• 

“ .854 


To form an idea of the comparative density of these sev¬ 
eral products, it may be well to state, that Sulphuric Ether, 
which is one of the lightest fluids known, has a density of 
.736, and Alcohol, when absolutely pure, .815. 

The boiling points of these several fluids present some 
anomalies, but are usually progressive, thus, No. 2 gave 
signs of boiling at 115° C. (=239 Fah.) and boiled vigorously, 
and remained constant at 225° C. to 228° C., (=437° to 442° 
Fah.) No. 3 began to boil 120°, (=248° Fah.,) rose to 270° 
(=518 Fah.,)where it remained constant. No. 4 began to 
vaporise at 14(T, (=284° Fah.,) rose to 29(T, ( = 554" Fah.,) 
where it remained constant. On a second heating the tem¬ 
perature continued to rise, and passed 305°, (=581 Fah.) 






( 9 ) 

No. 5 gave appearance of boiling at 160°, (=320° Fah., boil¬ 
ing more vigorously as the heat was raised, and was still 
rising at 308°, (=581' Fah.) No. 6 commenced boiling at 
135 , (=275° Fah.,) boiled violently at 160°, (=320° Fah.,) 
and continued rising above the range of the mercurial ther¬ 
mometer. No. 7 commenced ebullition at the same tern- 
perature as No. 6, and rose to 305°, (=58F Fall.,) where 
the ebullition was not very active. Much time was con¬ 
sumed in obtaining these results. We infer from them that 
the Rock Oil is a mixture of numerous compounds, all 
having essentially the same chemical constitution, but dif¬ 
fering in density and boiling points, and capable of separation 
from each other, by a well-regulated heat. 

The uncertainty of the boiling points indicates that the 
products obtained at the temperatures named above, were 
still mixtures of others, and the question forces itself upon 
us, whether these several oils are to be regarded as educts , 
( i . e., bodies previously existing, and simply separated in the 
process of distillation,) or whether they are not rather pro¬ 
duced by the heat and chemical change in the process of 
distillation. The continued application of an elevated 
temperature alone is sufficient to effect changes in the con¬ 
stitution of many organic products, evolving new bodies 
not before existing in the original substance. 

Properties of the distilled Oils. 

Exposed to the severest cold of the past winter, all the 
oils obtained in this distillation remained fluid. Only the 
last two or three appeared at all stiffened by a cold of 15° 
below zero, while the first three or four products of distilla¬ 
tion retained a perfect degree of fluidity. Exposed to air, 

2 


( 10 ) 

as I have said, they suffer no change. The chemical exam¬ 
ination of these oils showed that they were all composed of 
Carbon and Hydrogen, and probably have these elements 
in the same numerical relation. When first distilled, they 
all had an acid reaction, due to the presence of a small quan¬ 
tity of free sulphuric acid, derived from the Crude oil. This 
was entirely removed by a weak alkaline water, and even 
by boiling on pure water. Clean copper remained untar¬ 
nished in the oil which had been thus prepared, showing its 
fitness for lubrication, so far as absence of corrosive quality 
is concerned. The oils contain no oxygen, as is clearly 
shown by the fact that clean potassium remains bright in 
them. Strong Sulphuric Acid decomposes and destroys the 
oil entirely. Nitric Acid changes it to a yellow, oily fluid, 
similar to the changes produced by Nitric Acid on other oils. 
Hydrochloi'ic , Chromic , and Acetic Acids , do not affect it. 
Litharge and other metallic oxyds do not change it, or con¬ 
vert it in any degree to a drying oil. Potassium remains 
in it unaffected, even at a high temperature. Hydrates of 
Potash , Soda , and Lime , are also without action upon it. 
Chlorid of Calcium and many other salts manifest an equal 
indifference to it. Distilled with Bleaching Powders (chlo¬ 
rid of lime) and water, in the manner of producing chloro¬ 
form, the oil is changed into a product having an odor and 
taste resembling chloroform. Exposed for many days in an 
open vessel, at a regulated heat below 212°, the oil gradually 
rises in vapor, as may be seen by its staining the paper used 
to cover the vessel from dust, and also by its sensible diminu¬ 
tion. Six or eight fluid ounces, exposed in this manner in 
a metallic vessel for six weeks or more, the heat never 
exceeding 200°, gradually and slowly diminished, grew yel- 


low, and finally left a small residue of dark brown lustrous 
looking resin, or pitchy substance, which in the cold was 
hard and brittle. The samples of oil employed were very 
nearly colorless. This is remarkable when we remember 
that the temperature of the distillation was above 500° Pah. 
The oil is nearly insoluble in pure alcohol, not more than 
4 or 5 per centum being dissolved by this agent. In Ether 
the oil dissolves completely, and on gentle heating is left 
unchanged by the evaporization of the Ether. India Rubber 
is dissolved by the distilled oil to a pasty mass, forming a 
thick black fluid which, after a short time, deposits the 
india rubber. It dissolved a little Amber, but only sufficient 

to color the oil red. It also dissolves a small portion of 

* 

Copal in its natural state ; but after roasting, the Copal dis¬ 
solves in it as it does in other oils. 

Use for Gas making. 

The Crude Oil was tried as a means of illumination. For 
this purpose a weighed quantity was decomposed, by passing 
it through a wrought iron retort filled with carbon, and 
ignited to full redness. The products of this decomposition 
were received in a suitable apparatus. It produced nearly 
pure carburetted Hydrogen Gas, the most highly illuminating 
of all the carbon gases. In fact, the oil may be regarded 
as chemically identical with illuminating gas in a liquid 
form. The gas produced equalled ten cubic feet to the 
pound of oil. It burned with an intense flame, smoking in 
the ordinary gas jet, but furnishing the most perfect flame 
with the argand burner. 

These experiments were not prosecuted further, because 
it was assumed that other products, now known and in use, 


for gas making, might be employed at less expense for this 
purpose, than your oil. Nevertheless, this branch of inquiry 
may be worthy of further attention. 

Distillation at a higher temperature. 

The results of the distillation at a regulated temperature 
in glass, led us to believe, that in a metallic vessel capable 
of enduring a high degree of heat, we might obtain a much 
larger proportion of valuable products. A copper-still, hold¬ 
ing five or six gallons was therefore provided, and furnished 
with an opening, through which a thermometer could be 
introduced into the interior of the vessel. Fourteen imperial 
quarts (or, by weight, 560 ounces) of the crude product 
were placed in this vessel, and the heat raised rapidly to 
about 280° C., (=536° Fah.,) somewhat higher than the 
last temperature reached in the first distillation. At this 
high temperature the distillation was somewhat rapid, and 
the product was easily condensed without a worm. The 
product of the first stage was 130 ounces, (or over 28 per 
cent.,) of a very light colored thin oil, having a density of 
.792. This product was also acid, and as before, the acid was 
easily removed by boiling with fresh water. The temperature 
was now raised to somewhat above 300° C., (=572° Fah.,) 
and 123 ounces more distilled, of a more viscid and yellow¬ 
ish oil, having a density of .865. This accounts for over 
43 per cent, of the whole quantity taken. The temperature 
being raised now above the boiling point of mercury, was 
continued at that until 170 ounces, or over 31 per cent., of 
a dark brown oil had been distilled, having a strong empy- 
reumatic odor. Upon standing still for some time, a dark 
blackish sediment was seen to settle from this portion, and 


on boiling it with water, the unpleasant odor was in a great 
degree removed, and the fluid became more light colored 
and perfectly bright. (It was on a sample of this that the 
photometric experiments were made.) The next portion, 
distilled at about 700° Fall., gave but about 17 ounces, and 
this product was both lighter in color and more fluid than 
the last. It now became necessary to employ dry hickory 
wood as a fuel, to obtain flame and sufficient heat to drive 
over any further portions of the residue remaining in the 
alembic. 

It will be seen that we have already accounted for over 
75 per cent, of the whole quantity taken. There was a 

loss on the whole process of about 10 per cent., made up, in 

> 

part, of a coaly residue that remained in the alembic, and 
partly of the unavoidable loss resulting from the necessity 
of removing the oil twice from the alembic, during the pro¬ 
cess of distillation, in order to change the arrangements of 
the thermometer, and provide means of measuring a heat 
higher than that originally contemplated. 

About 15 per cent, of a very thick, dark oil, completed 
this experiment. This last product, which came off slowly 
at about 750° Fah., is thicker and darker than the original 
oil, and when cold is filled with a dense mass of pearly 
crystals. These are Paraffine, a peculiar product of the 
destructive distillation of many bodies in the organic king¬ 
dom. This substance may be separated and obtained as a 
white body, resembling fine spermaceti, and from it beauti¬ 
ful candles have been made. The oil in which the crystals 
float is of a very dark color, and by reflected light is blackish 
green, like the original crude product. Although it distills 
at so high a temperature, it boils at a point not very different 


from the denser products of the first distillation. The Par¬ 
affine, with which this portion of the oil abounds, does not 
exist ready-formed in the original crude product, but it is 
a result of the high temperature employed in the process of 
distillation, by which the elements are newly arranged. 

I am not prepared to say, without further investigation, 
that it would be desirable for the Company to manufacture 
this product in a pure state, fit for producing candles, (a 
somewhat elaborate chemical process,) but I may add that, 
should it be desirable to do so, the quantity of this substance 
produced may probably be very largely increased, by means 
which it is now unnecessary to mention. 

Paraffine derives its name from the unalterable nature of 
the substance, under the most powerful chemical agents. It 
is white, in brilliant scales of a greasy lustre; it melts at 
about 116°, and boils at over 700° Fah. ; it dissolves in 
boiling alcohol and ether, and burns in the air with a brilliant 
flame. Associated with Paraffine are portions of a very vol¬ 
atile oil, Eupione , which boils at a lower temperature, and 
by its presence renders the boiling point of the mixture dif¬ 
ficult to determine. I consider this point worthy of further 
examination than I have been able at present to give it, i. e., 
whether the last third, and possibly the last half, of the Pe¬ 
troleum may not be advantageously so treated as to produce 
from it the largest amount of Paraffine which it is able to 
produce. 

The result of this graduated distillation, at a high tempera¬ 
ture, is that we have obtained over 90 per cent, of the whole 
crude product in a series of oils, having valuable properties, 
although not all equally fitted for illumination and lubrica¬ 
tion. 


( 15 ) 

A second distillation of a portion of the product which 
came over in the latter stages of the process, (a portion dis¬ 
tilled at about 650° Fall., and having a high color,) gave us a 
thin oil of density about .750, of light yellow color and 
faint odor. 

It is safe to add that, by the original distillation, about 
50 per cent, of the Crude oil is obtained in a state fit for use 
- as an illuminator without further preparation than simple 
clarification by boiling a short time with fair water. 

Distillation by High Steam. 

Bearing in mind that by aid of high steam, at an elevated 
temperature, many distillations in the arts are effected which 
cannot be so well accomplished by dry heat, I thought to 
apply this method in case of the present research. Instances 
of this mode of distillation are in the new process for Stearine 
candles, and in the preparation of Rosin Oil. I, accordingly, 
arranged my retort in such a manner that I could admit a jet 
of high steam into the boiler, and almost at the bottom of the 
contained Petroleum. I was, however, unable to command 
a jet of steam above 275° to 290° Fah., and, although this 
produced abundant distillation, it did not effect a separation 
of the several products, and the fluid distilled had much the 
same appearance as the Petroleum itself, thick and turbid. 
4s this trial was made late in the investigation, I have been 
unable to give it a satisfactory issue, chiefly for want of steam 
of a proper temperature. But I suggest, for the consideration 
of the Company, the propriety of availing themselves of the 
experience already existing on this subject, and particularly 
among those who are concerned in the distillation of Rosin 
Oil—a product having many analogies with Petroleum in 
respect to its manufacture. 


1 


v 


r is) 

Use of the Naphtha for Illumination. 

Many fruitless experiments have been made in the course 
of this investigation which it is needless to recount. I will, 
therefore, only state those results which are of value. 

1. —I have found that the only lamp in which this oil can 
be successfully burned is the Camphene lamp, or one having 
a button to form the flame, and an external cone to direct 
the current of air, as is now usual in all lamps designed to 
burn either Camphene, Rosin Oil, Sylvie Oil, or any other 
similar product. 

2. —As the distilled products of Petroleum are nearly or 
quite insoluble in alcohol, burning fluid (i. e., a solution of 
the oil in alcohol) cannot be manufactured from it. 

3. —As a consequence, the oil cannot be burned in a hand 
lamp, since, with an unprotected wick, it smokes badly. 
Neither can it be burned in a CarcePs mechanical lamp, be¬ 
cause a portion of the oil being more volatile than the rest, 
rises in vapor on the elevated wick required in that lamp, 
and so causes it to smoke. 

I have found all the products of distillation from the cop¬ 
per still capable of burning well in the Camphene lamp, ex¬ 
cept the last third or fourth part, ( i . e., that portion which 
came off at 700° F. and rising, and which was thick with the 
crystals of Paraffine.) Freed from acidity by boiling on water 
the oils of this distillation burned for 12 hours without in¬ 
juriously coating the wick, and without smoke. The wick 
may be elevated considerably above the level required for 
Camphene without any danger of smoking, and the oil shows 
no signs of crusting the wick tubes with a coating of Resin, 
such as happens in the case with Camphene, and occasions 
so much inconvenience. The light from the rectified Naph- 


( 17 ) 


tha is pure and white without odor. The rate of consump¬ 
tion is less than half that of Camphene, or Rosin Oil. The 
Imperial pint, of 20 fluid ounces, was the one employed—a 
gallon contains 160 such ounces. A Camphene lamp, with 
a wick one inch thick, consumed of rectified Naphtha in one 
hour, 1 3-4 ounces of fluid. A Carcel’s mechanical lamp of 
7-8 inch wick, consumed of best Sperm Oil, per hour, 2 
ounces. A “ Diamond Light” lamp, with “ Sylvie Oil,” and 
a wick 1 1-2 inch diameter, consumed, per hour, 4 ounces. 

I have submitted the lamp burning Petroleum to the in¬ 
spection of the most experienced lampists who were acces¬ 
sible to me, and their testimony was, that the lamp burn¬ 
ing this fluid gave as much light as any which they had 
seen, that the oil spent more economically, and the uniformity 
of the light was greater than in Camphene, burning for 12 
hours without a sensible dimunition, and without smoke. I 
was, however, anxious to test the amount of light given 
more accurately than could be done by a comparison of opin¬ 
ions. With your approbation I proceeded therefore to have 
constructed a photometer, or apparatus for the measurement 
of light, upon an improved plan. Messrs. Gunow, scientific 
artists of this city, undertook to construct this apparatus, and 
have done so to my entire satisfaction. This apparatus I 
shall describe elsewhere—its results only are interesting here. 
By its means I have brought the Petroleum light into rigid 
comparison, with the most important means of artificial illu¬ 
mination. Let us briefly recapitulate the results of these. 

Photometric Experiments. 

The unit adopted for comparison of intensities of illumi¬ 
nation is Judd’s Patent Sixes Sperm Candle. 

3 


( 18 ) 


The Sperm Oil used was from Edward Mott Robinson, of 
New Bedford—the best winter Sperm remaining fluid at 32° 
Fah. The Colza Oil and Carcel’s lamps were furnished by 
Dardonville, lampist, Broadway, New York. 

The Gas used was that of the New Haven Gas Light Co., 
made from best Newcastle coal, and of fair average quality. 

The distance between the standard candle, and the illumi¬ 
nator sought to be determined was constantly 150 inches—the 
Photometer traversed the graduated bar in such a manner as 
to read, at any point where equality of illumination was pro¬ 
duced, the ratio between the two lights. I quote only single 
examples of the average results, and with as little details as 
possible, but I should state that the operations of the Pho¬ 
tometer was so satisfactory that we obtained constantly the 
same figures when operating in the same way, evening after 
evening, and the sensitiveness of the instrument was such 
that a difference of one half inch in its position was immedi¬ 
ately detected in the comparative illumination of the two 
equal discs of light in the dark chamber. This is. I believe, 
a degree of accuracy not before obtained by a Photometer. 

Table of illuminating power of various artificial lights 
compared with Judd’s patent candles as a unit. 

Source of Light. Ratio to Candle—i. 

Gas burning in Scotch fish-tail tips. 4 feet to the hour, 1 : 5.4 

“ “ “ “ “ 6 “ " 1 : 7.55 

“ “ Cornelius “ “ 6 “ “ ] : 6.2 

“ “ English Argand burner 10 “ “ 1:16 

Rock Oil, burning in 1 inch wick Caraphene Lamp, consum¬ 
ing 1 3-4 ounces of fluid the hour, - - - - 1 : 8.1 

Carcel’s Mechanical Lamp, burning best Sperm Oil, 2 ounces 

fluid to the hour, wick 7-8 of an inch, - - - 1 ; 7.5 

Carcel’s “ “ “ “ “ Colza Oil, 1 : 7.5 

Oamphene Lamp, (same size as Rock Oil above,) burning 

best Cam phene, 4 ounces fluid per hour, - - - 1 : 1.1 

“Diamond Light” by “Sylvie Oil,” in 1 1-2 inch wick, 4 

ounces per hour,.1 : 8.1 


From this table it will be seen that the Rock Oil Lamp 
was somewhat superior in illuminating power to Carcel’s 
Lamp of the same size, burning the most costly of all oils. 

i 

It was also equal to the “ Diamond Light” from a lamp of 
one half greater power, and consequently is superior to it in 
the same ratio in lamps of equal power. The Camphene 
lamp appears to be about one fifth superior to it, but, on the 
other hand, the Rock Oil surpasses the Camphene by more 
than one half in economy of consumption, (». e.. it does not 
consume one half so much fluid by measure,) and it burns 
more constantly. Compared with the Sylvie Oil and the 
Sperm, the Rock Oil gave on the ground glass diaphgram 
the whitest disc of illumination, while in turn the Camphene 
was whiter than the Rock Oil light. By the use of screens 
of different colored glass, all inequalities of color were com¬ 
pensated in the use of the photometer, so that the intensity 
of light could be more accurately compared. Compared with 
Gas, the Rock Oil gave more light than any burner used ex¬ 
cept the costly Argand consuming ten feet of gas per hour. 
To compare the cost of these several fluids with each other 
we must know the price of the several articles, and this varies 
very much in different places. Thus, gas in New Haven 
costs $4 per 1,000 feet, and in New York $3.50 per 1,000. 
in Philadelphia $2.00 per 1,000, and in Boston about the 
same amount. 

Such Sperm Oil as was used costs $2.50 per gallon, the 
Colza about $2, the Sylvie Oil 50 cents, and the Camphene 
68 cents—no price has been fixed upon for the rectified Rock 
Oil. 

I cannot refrain from expressing my satisfaction at the re¬ 
sults of these photometric experiments, since they have given 


( 20 ) 

the Oil of your Company a much higher value as an illumi¬ 
nator than I had dared to hope. 

i 

Use of the Rock Oil as a Lubricator for Machinery. 

A portion of the rectified oil was sent to Boston to be 
tested upon a trial apparatus there, but I regret to say that 
the results have not been communicated to me yet. As this 
oil does not gum or become acid or rancid by exposure, it 
possesses in that, as well as in its wonderful resistance to 
extreme cold, important qualities for a lubricator. 

Conclusion. 

In conclusion, gentlemen, it appears to me that there is 
much ground for encouragement in the belief that your Com¬ 
pany have in their possession a raw material from which, by 
simple and not expensive process, they may manufacture very 
valuable products. 

It is worthy of note that my experiments prove that nearly 
the whole of the raw product may be manufactured without 
waste, and this solely by a well directed process which is in 
practice, one of the most simple of all chemical processes. 

There are suggestions of a practical nature, as to the 
economy of your manufacture, when you are ready to begin 
operations, which I shall be happy to make, should the Com¬ 
pany require it—meanwhile, I remain, gentlemen, 

Your ob‘ ; t serv’t, 

B. SILLIMAN, Jr., 

Prof, of Chemistry in Yale College , 

New Haven, April 16, 1855. 


Erratum.—O n page 8. tenth line from bottom, for 815, read 800. 







dik a cl 


T** 




SUGGESTIONS 

FOR THE USE OF 


(feutkriaitfo & 



» 

METALLIC OILS AND GREASE 

FOR MACHINERY. 


There are two kinds of Metallic Oil—the Transparent , and 
White Metallic Oils. The first possessing at least, the fluidity 
of Sperm Oil, and being entirely free from gum or gluten , is 
adapted to the lubrication of all kinds of machinery, and par¬ 
ticularly, the lighter or better descriptions, as Cotton and 
Wool, Locomotives, (fee., &c. The other, having greater 
consistency than the Transparent, is particularly adapted to the 
lubrication of the heavier or more common descriptions, as 
Shaftings, the Cylinders and principal Bearings of Steam En¬ 
gines, &e., (fee. 

The Transparent Metallic Oil, is applied in the same man¬ 
ner as Sperm Oil, except that it should, on account of its 
greater affinity for Metallic substances, be applied in less quan¬ 
tity and less frequently. 

The White Metallic Oil, being of about the consistency of 
cream, will not feed through a wick freely, nor will it enter 
so small an aperture as common oil. The outlet of the oiler 
from which it is applied, should be about an eight (-J) of an 
inch over. If the bottom of an oil-hole, or the lower part of 
a journal-box, have sharp, close-fitting edges, the Oil will 
not pass between the moving and the stationary parts of 




/iC3 






2 


the machinery so easily as is desirable; but any person of 
ordinary ingenuity, understanding this difficulty, would at 
once devise the proper remedy, such as having the bot¬ 
tom of the oil-hole countersunk , the cap of the journal loos¬ 
ened slightly, or the close-fitting edge filed away, so that 
the Oil may enter in a wedge-like form. The entrance of the 
Oil being thus facilitated, the motion of the machinery will 
draw in a proper supply. On the other hand, when the oil- 
passages are such that the bearings are certain to be lubri¬ 
cated, caution is necessary to prevent too copious a supply of 
this Oil, as any excess in the supply, does more harm than 
good (aside from the unnecessary waste). In such cases, the 
means of diminishing the supply will be obvious; such as 
stopping part of the oil-hole with a wooden plug, if the sup¬ 
ply is constant from an ordinary oil-cup; or, instead of a 
wooden plug, a number of small wires might be inserted in 
the oil-hole. When machinery is not adapted to receiving 
this kind of Oil, the Transparent Metallic Oil is recommended. 
But the greater lasting and cooling properties of the White 
Metallic Oil, will abundantly compensate for the trouble of 
altering the oil-entrances, when practicable. This kind of 
Metallic Oil is also an excellent substitute for Tallow in Cy¬ 
linders, when they require lubricating. It ought to be put 
into the Cylinder in its natural state, without any previous 
heating. If the packing of the Cylinder should be of hemp , 
and very old and gummy, from the use of bad oil or tallow, a 
temporary inconvenience may be experienced from the Metal¬ 
lic Oil dissolving the gum, and thus loosening the packing. 
In such cases, the use of Metallic Oil should be suspended till 
the Cylinder is re-packed. 

Either kind of Metallic Oil has the property of dissolving 
or loosening any gum on the machinery to which it is applied. 
The gum thus dissolved or loosened, gives to the Metallic Oil 
thus applied, a dirty, blackish appearance; and in some sit¬ 
uations, the loosened gum collects so as to obstruct the proper 
feeding of the Oil. But when all the old gum is removed, a 
fine silvery polish or coating will be formed on the rubbing 
surfaces, and the machinery will remain clean as long as the 


3 


Metallic Oil is properly used—except that when India Rubber 
is used in the machinery, and coming in contact with the Oil, 
the India Rubber gum being dissolved by it, will sometimes 
adhere to the parts which rub against it. 

Again, bearings sometimes appear to be perfectly free 
from gum, but on close examination a hard gum , mixed with 
rust, may be detected on those portions of the bearings where 
the friction has been slight (as in the case of spindles, which 
rub only against that side of the bearing towards which the 
band draws them). When Metallic Oil is applied to the gum 
and rust which have thus accumulated from the use of other 
oil, it gradually softens the gummy mixture, and with it forms 
a paste, which clings both to the moving and stationary parts 
of the machinery, and has a tendency to retard the motion. 
Sometimes this paste hardens during the night, while the ma¬ 
chinery is at rest, and almost cements the surfaces of metal 
together, so that it is quite difficult to start the machines in 
the morning. Of course, this paste must be removed before 
much advantage can be derived from the use of Metallic Oil. 
A difficulty somewhat similar to that last mentioned, is pro¬ 
duced by using summer Metallic Oil in cold weather; but the 
winter Metallic Oil will not chill at the ordinary temperature 
of Spinning and Weaving-rooms. 

Bearings lubricated with Metallic Oil, sometimes seem to 
become dry very soon, but, in reality, when the bearings pre¬ 
sent this appearance, there is still a thin, almost imperceptible 
film of the lubricating substance, adhering to the bearings, pro¬ 
tecting them from heating, and diminishing the friction in a 
remarkable degree. By taking advantage of this property of 
the Metallic Oil, and abstaining from a fresh application of 
Oil until it is actually needed, a great saving can be effected 
in the quantity of Oil used. 

Particular benefit is to be derived from the use of Metallic 
Oil on quick-running upright Shafting and Spindles; because 
(when the supply is not too copious) it adheres to the metal so 
tenaciously, that it cannot be thrown off by centrifugal force, 
and its own weight does not make it run down too rapidly; 
it cannot be easily shaken off by any jerking motion of the 


4 


machinery. On heavy journals it is very efficacious, on ac¬ 
count of its cooling properties, and because it does not run 
from a warm bearing, as other oils do. 

SPINNING ANJD WEAVING MACHINERY. 

In using Metallic Oil on Spinning and Weaving Ma¬ 
chinery (which furnish some of the most delicate and severe 
tests of lubricating oils), particular regard should be paid to 
the peculiar properties of Metallic Oil. For instance the flier- 
nose of the Throstle Spinning Frame, cannot be oiled properly 
when in motion , there being no certainty that the Oil will 
reach the bearing as intended, it having a tendency to 
stay on polished metal, in the exact spot where it is 
applied. The attraction which exists between it and metal, pre¬ 
vents it from spreading like Sperm and other oils. Sperm Oil 
will, therefore, sometimes find its way to a bearing, when 
Metallic Oil will not. But the same property which makes it 
more difficult to apply Metallic Oil to the right spot, renders 
it more effective when the oiling is properly accomplished ; the 
Metallic Oil having a tendency to adhere to the bearings, while 
the friction is spreading it over the entire rubbing surfaces ; 
whereas, Sperm Oil would, (particularly on warm bearings), 
unless a great surplus was applied, be likely to run o^before the 
rubbing surfaces were completely covered, thus leaving the 
journals, in a measure, unprotected, and consequently liable to 
heat. If the Metallic Oil is applied to the flier-nose when at 
rest , one oiling per day is sufficient; and the Spindle of the 
same frame, also needs but one oiling in a day, except where 
the Spindle or flier runs in cast iron , in which case two oilings 
per day are generally necessary, unless the machinery is of a 
very light character. Oiling once or twice a week is usually 
sufficient for the lower bearing or step of the Spindle. The 
front steel roller requires to be lubricated with Metallic Oil only 
two or three times a week, except when the roller is heavily 
weighted, as it generally is in mule spinning. In such cases 
it may be necessary to oil once a day. 


5 


WASlfeRS. 

When Metallic Oil comes in contact with the washer 
under the Bobbin, if any viscous matter has accumulated on 
the washer from the use of bad oil, the Metallic Oil will 
loosen or soften this substance, and the working of the Bobbin 
will thereby be impeded. But if the washers are clean , the 
Metallic Oil will make the Bobbins move more easily, 
smoothly and uniformly, than when Sperm Oil is used; and, of 
course, fewer threads will be broken, than when the motion is 
irregular. When the washers become saturated with Metallic 
Oil, it sometimes happens, that the Bobbins revolve too easily, 
and in other cases not easily enough. Either of these faults is 
readily remedied, by substituting a washer and button of 
greater or less size; and when the draft is thus once properly 
regulated, no re-adjustment will be necessary until a new 
washer is required. In most cases where the difficulty is an 
excess of draft, it is produced by the action of Metallic Oil on 
the leather w*asher, as this oil has a tendency to open the pores 
of leather, rendering it quite soft, and thus causing greater 
friction, or draft; wdiereas, the gum which gradually collects 
from the use of Sperm Oil , fills the pores of the leather, which 
becoming hard by exposure to the air, and polished by the 
friction, allows the Bobbin to revolve more and more easily, 
the longer it is used. But when Metallic Oil is employed, the 
draft is uniform during the time that one washer is in use. On 
cloth washers the tendency of Metallic Oil is to make the Bob¬ 
bins revolve too easily / because, since no gum results from 
its use, the fibres of the cloth do not become matted together 
as when Sperm Oil is used; and, consequently, the Bob¬ 
bins, being partly sustained by the natural stiffness of the 
fibres (increased perhaps by electricity), are borne up, and 
their friction or draft is thus diminished. 


'A 


BOBBINS. 


Bobbins, which have been used some time, usually have 
their inner surfaces coated with hard gum. This gum is liable 
to become softened and loosened by the use of Metallic Oil. 
If this occurs to such an extent, as to interfere with the motion 


6 


of the Bobbins, the collected gum should be removed. Ex¬ 
periments are now being made for the purpose of ascertaining 
the comparative merits of Metallic and other oils for soaking 
Bobbins. With Metallic Oil the process is much more rapid, 
and Bobbins soaked in it, will be entirely free from gum, 
and (it is believed) will run much better than when prepared 
with any other kind of oil; but the experiments have not yet 
been continued long enough to determine all the facts with 
certainty, though they have been continued long enough to 
warrant our recommending that Bobbins be soaked ten or 
twelve minutes in Metallic Oil heated to about 200 degrees, 
Fahrenheit, then taken out and put into cool Metallic Oil, 
where they should remain about twenty minutes. Some, 
however, prefer to soak the Bobbins four or five days in cool 
Metallic Oil without any extra heat. After the Bobbins have 
been soaked in either manner above-mentioned, they should 
lie a few days spread out so as to be all exposed to the air, 
and then, after being reamed out, they are, first being mode¬ 
rately oiled, ready to be placed on the Spindles. Bobbins pre¬ 
pared as above recommended, contain nearly twice as much 
oil, as when soaked in aCny other kind of oil; and as Metallic 
Oil does not dry away like other oils, it will, on the Spin¬ 
dle becoming in the least warm, be drawn out from the Bobbin, 
and act as a lubricator. The result is, that the Bobbins require 
to be but slightly oiled twice , or at most, three times a week , 
instead of from two to six times a day, as is the case when 
soaked in Sperm, and more particularly in Linseed , and oiled 
with Sperm Oil. The advantage to be gained here is of very 
considerable importance, as uniformity of draft for two or three 
days is obtained, besides saving the time and trouble of fre¬ 
quent oilings. Moreover, the use of Metallic Oil prevents 
what is called jumping of the Bobbin, which is the principal 
cause of uneveness in the thread, and of its breaking while 
spinning (for which the spinner too frequently blames the 
carder ). The imperfections in the thread consequent upon the 
variation of the draft on the Bobbins, or their jerking motion, 
also renders the thread more liable to break while passing 
through the Sizer and Loom , thus causing great loss of time 


7 


in tying knots, which, passing into the cloth, produce in it an 
unevenness, and necessarily diminished value. Thus the 
aggregate effect produced by inequality of draft , is probably 
much more important than manufacturers generally con. 
sider it. 

When Bobbins are soaked in Linseed Oil, and lubricated 
with Sperm Oil, the effect is an uneven draft. When first 
oiled they run hard, from being choked by the quantity of 
oil which is necessary for continuing the lubrication of them 
during the time they are being filled with thread ; and then 
they run more and more easily, till the oil is exhausted; and 
if this occurs before the Bobbins are filled, they then run 
harder again in consequence of the increased friction of the 
dry surfaces—the heat produced by this friction does not 
draw the Linseed Oil out of the Bobbins fast enough, to keep 
the Spindle properly lubricated, and when drawn out, the 
Linseed Oil, being of a sticky nature, interferes with the free 
revolution of the Bobbin. And even if the lubrication could 
be regulated, the Linseed Oil used for soaking Bobbins dries 
so hard that the surface of the Bobbin which rubs against the 
washer becomes polished, and the friction is thereby reduced; 
and the necessary consequence of this gradual reduction of 
friction is, the preventing of a uniform draft during the time 
that one Bobbin is in use. By soaking Bobbins in sperm oil , 
the principal objections to Linseed oil, as before mentioned, 
are avoided ; but as the sperm oil weakens or destroys the tex* 
ture of the wood, thus rendering the rims of the Bobbins more 
liable to become rough, thereby materially increasing the 
breaking of the Threads , and lessening the durability of the 
Bobbins; a small item, however, in comparison to breaking 
of the Threads. 

The ejfect of soaking Bobbins in Whale Oil , is similar to 
that of sperm, except that from its gummy nature, it is still 
less suitable. 

7"" When Metallic Oil is used on Spinning Machinery, 
and the Spindles are run by cotton or woolen bands, the 
bands should always be made of hard-twisted thread—say six 


BA^DS. 


/ 


threads of good quality slightly twisted together, then doubled 
and slightly twisted again (or a greater or less number of 
threads in proportion to the work to be performed). This 
makes what is called a soft band , which may be used in a dry 
state, as the threads (being of good quality and well twisted), 
do not permit the fibres to whip out , as the tendency is, when 
the band is made of roving . When Sperm Oil is used, the 
fibres of the roving band are held together, by being saturated 
with the oil which flies from the revolving spindle ; but as 
Metallic Oil never flies off from the Spindle or Bolster, in 
sufficient quantity to saturate a band, it therefore, would allow 
a Roving band to whip itself to pieces in a short time. A 
thread band , being kept dry, also has the advantage over 
Roving, in its property of accommodating itself to changes of 
the weather, not requiring so frequent shortening or lengthen¬ 
ing, and consequently, giving a more uniform tension; so 
that, besides lasting enough longer to make it more economical , 
it also transmits power more regularly, than a Roving band. 

WEAVING. ^__ 

When Metallic Oil is applied to the picker-rod of a 
Loom, if the picker has any gummy substance on it (or 
even between the two thicknesses of hide of which it is com¬ 
posed), this gum is liable to be loosened by the Metallic Oil, 
and to interfere with the motion of the picker, by collecting 
on the picker-rod. But when clean pickers are used, a very 
small quantity of Metallic Oil taken between the thumb and 
finger, and rubbed on the picker-rod two or three times a day, 
is all that is necessary for making the picker traverse easily 
and regularly. If any superfluity of Oil is applied, it will be 
pushed toward the end of the rod, and then drop off, or else 
serve as a nucleus for gathering dust and fibres, (if it is not 
wiped off). Such results never occur when Metallic Oil is 
properly used ; but with Sperm Oil they are almost unavoid¬ 
able, it being very difficult to ensure a sufficient lubrica¬ 
tion from Sperm Oil, without actually applying an excess. 
Too much Metallic Oil on the picker-rod is particularly ob- 


9 


jectionable, because it is liable to form so thick a coating on 
the rod, as to obstruct the motion of the picker. 

Again ; when Metallic Oil is used on Weaving Machinery, 
where Pickers are employed, the Pickers should always be soak¬ 
ed in oil previous to use. Metallic Oil is preferred. The Pickers 
should lie in the oil five or six days; after which, they should 
be exposed to the air, about the same length of time.—If the 
Pickers are not soaked previous to use, and Metallic Oil is 
used on the Picker Rod, the Picker will, in consequence of 
the penetrating nature of the Metallic Oil, absorb the Oil so 
fast, as to require a fresh application oftener , than if Sperm Oil 
is used. 

Another reason why Pickers should be soaked previous to 
use, is—that in consequence of the unsoaked Picker, continu¬ 
ally taking up Oil, that portion of it which rubs on the Rod 
will become so soft, as to obstruct its free motion. When 
soaked in Oil (particularly Metallic Oil), the rubbing surfaces 
become polished by the friction, and not only is trouble avoid¬ 
ed but two important advantages obtained, cleanliness and 
economy. 

OILERS. 

When Metallic Oil is applied from a tin oiler to fine ma¬ 
chinery, in order to prevent an excessive supply, the outlet of 
the oiler, should not be larger than would admit a small pin. 
An oiler with a steel nose is recommended, because the outlet 
is not so liable to change of size from breaking or bruising, 
as when made from tin; and hence, the aperture remaining 
uniform, prevents irregularity in applying the oil, which, on 
spinning machinery, is an important consideration. 

WHITE METALLIC OIL. 

The White Metallic Oil is liable to be partially decom¬ 
posed under certain circumstances. To prevent this, it is recom¬ 
mended that the Oil should be occasionally shaken or stirred 
up in the barrel or vessel containing it, and that it should be 
protected from great changes of temperature. If tne ingredi¬ 
ents should, by excessive cold or from any other cause, become 


10 


so separated that clear Oil appears on the surface of the white 
compound, no part of the Oil should be used, until a recom¬ 
bination is effected, by thorough admixture. And if this 
remedy should not prove effectual, the Oil should be returned 
to the manufacturers, who will cheerfully exchange it, or re¬ 
fund the amount paid for it. The liability to decomposition 
of the White Metallic Oil is here mentioned, not because it is 
of common occurrence, but because it is possible / and it is de¬ 
sirable that those unacquainted with it, should be instructed 
how to proceed in every emergency. 

White Metallic Oil should not be exposed to a tempera¬ 
ture lower than 40 deg. Fahrenheit. 

METALLIC GREASE. 

There are also two kinds of Metallic Grease , viz: White 
Metallic Grease, made of the finest and most carefully selected 
materials, and Blue Metallic Grease, which is a cheaper arti¬ 
cle, but possessing nearly the same properties. Both kinds of 
Metallic Grease are intended for lubricating cog gearing, open 
journals of heavy shafting, and axles of all kinds of vehicles. 

The Blue Metallic Grease, however, it being of a coarser 
quality than the Hard White , and of a darker color, is not 
so suitable for bright icorh ; but being of a tougher nature, 
and much cheaper, is particularly well adapted for Lubricating 
Cog-gearing, Waggon Axles, &c., &c. Metallic grease is 
applied in the same manner as common grease, except that, 
on account of its greater durability, and inclination to adhere 
to the surfaces, it should be in less quantity and less frequent, 
and should never be melted before using; or if melted, it 
should not be made very hot, and should be well mixed before 
applying it. Metallic Grease is made of various consistences, 
to suit different purposes, and different climates. In its most 
usual form, it is about as hard as dough ; and is not so sensible 
to the changes of temperature as other grease; though that 
which is most suitable for summer, is not well adapted for 
winter , and vice versa. But Metallic Grease which has a 
consistency suitable for Spring or Fall, may be made to answer 


11 


a good purpose in Summer and Winter also, if protected 
against the extremes of heat and cold. 

REMARKS. 

It would be impossible to furnish minute directions for the 
best manner of oiling all kinds of machinery ; and such direc¬ 
tions would be more reliable, if they emanated from the con¬ 
sumers , rather than from the manufacturers of oil. The fore¬ 
going details are given merely for the purpose of illustrating 
some of the properties of Metallic Oil; and it is believed that 

• 

any practical and unprejudiced person, who is acquainted with 
the nature of the Metallic Oil, will readily discover the proper 
method of applying it, in any case to which his attention is 
directed. Yet it may be expedient to repeat some suggestions 
for the benefit of those, who are not well acquainted with the 
peculiarities of Metallic Oil, and to impress on them the im¬ 
portance of keeping those peculiarities in mind while testing 
it. The neglect of such caution might, in some cases, 
lead to serious inconvenience and loss. In testing Metallic 
Oil, no advantage will be perceived in using it, until the ma¬ 
chinery is thoroughly cleaned. If the oil itself does not re¬ 
move the old gum rapidly enough, and so thoroughly, that no 
black greasy substance appears where the oil is applied, then 
the machinery should be taken to pieces and cleaned with 
potash, or some other similar substance. I he Metallic Oil 
must not be used too freely , nor too frequently. The steel¬ 
nosed oilers are almost indispensable for properly lubricating 
fne machinery; for, if an excess of Metallic Oil is applied to 
light machinery, the attraction between the oil, and the metal, 
is so great, that there is a strong tendency to obstruct, rather 
than to facilitate motion. 

Notwithstanding the general prejudice which exists (■per¬ 
haps justly) against all new oils , yet on account of the increas¬ 
ing scarcity and consequent adulteration of Sperm Oil, con¬ 
sumers must be convinced of the importance of obtaining a 
reliable substitute. And it is hoped, that in conducting ex¬ 
periments with Metallic Oil, a fair and unprejudiced trial will 


12 


be given, and that every little difficulty in the running of the 
machinery, really caused by defective bands, belts, bad quality 
of cotton or wool, variation in the weather, old gum, &c., &c., 
will not (as has too often been the case), be attributed to the 
use of Metallic Oil. It is not pretended that Metallic Oil has 
the power of constructing , or even repairing machinery ; but 
it is claimed, that it excells every other substance as a lubrica¬ 
tor , when it has a fair chance. Experimenters should consider 
that the fact of Sperm Oil working better than Metallic Oil, 
under particular circumstances , does not establish the supe¬ 
riority of Sperm Oil; for, by a slight modification of circum¬ 
stances, the Metallic Oil may be found to work better than 
Sperm does, under any circumstances. It is for those inter¬ 
ested to determine whether, the advantages to be gained by a 
change, will compensate them for the trouble and expense of 
changing; and in coming to such determination, they ought 
not to feel above availing themselves of suggestions from those, 
who have studied and experimented on the same subject. 


13 


INSURANCE. 

Many Fire Insurance Companies have required an advanc¬ 
ed rate ot premium for Insurance, when chemically prepared 
Oils are used, or have restricted the Insured to the use of 
Sperm Oil. The economy of using Metallic Oil on Spinning 
and Weaving Machinery, has induced many Manufacturers 
to apply to the Companies in which they are insured, for a 
removal of the prohibition, as respects the Metallic Oil. 

The following, are some of the companies, who have con¬ 
sented to insure parties using Metallic Oil, at the same rate of 
premium, as when Sperm Oil is used : 

The Howard Ins. Co., by Lewis Phillips, Secretary. 

The Hartford Fire Ins. Co., and Connecticut Fire Ins. Co., 
by E. White, Agent. 

The Columbian Fire Ins. Co.; per order of the President, by 
E. White. 

Hational Fire Ins. Co., by W. C. Kellogg, Secretary. 
Commercial Fire Ins. Co., by Chas. J. Martin, Secretary. 
Equitable Ins. Co., by R. J. Thorn, President. 

Manhattan Fire Ins. Co., Hath. Richards, President. 

Korth Western Ins. Co., Geo. Deming, Agent 
Columbus Insurance Co., E. Fassett, Agent; by J. Sutphen. 
Lexington Ins. Co. and Merchants’ M. Ins. Co., Buffalo, J. 

Hoxie, Agent, per J. Sutphen. 

T. G. Crary, Agent Augusta Ins. and Banking Co. 

Grocers’ Fire Ins. Co., by J. Milton Smith, Secretary. 
iEtna Ins. Co., by Thomas A. Alexander, Agent, 
new York Fire and Marine Insurance Co., by D. Underhill, 
Secretary. 

Protection Insurance Co., J. S. Clark, Agent. 

E. C. Finn, Secretary of Long Island Ins. Co. 

Franklin Insurance Co., Philadelphia. 

In consequence of many losses by Fire, occasioned by the 
use of chemically prepared Oils, the above Companies have, 
by joint request, caused the Metallic Oil to be analyzed by 
James R. Chilton, M. D., with a view to determine its safety 
as compared with Sperm Oil. The result is the discovery, that 


14 


the Metallic Oil contains less of those substances which are 
liable to ignite by friction, than Sperm Oil. 

Experiments made by some of our most prominent Manu¬ 
facturers, Engineers, and Machinists, to ascertain the cooling 
properties of the Metallic Oils as lubricators for Machinery, 
have also established their great superiority in this respect. 

The particulars of some of these tests, and the certificates of 
approval, which were submitted to the Insurance Companies, 
are in possession of the Howard Insurance Co., Hew York, 
and the Franklin Insurance Co., of Philadelphia, to which, 
and also, to E. White, Esq., Agent in Hew York for the Con¬ 
necticut and Hartford Insurance Co’s, other Insurance Com¬ 
panies, to whom Manufacturers’ may apply for Insurance, are 
referred. 

Copies of the Certificates which are held by 11 The Howard 
and Franklin Insurance Co.,” and numerous other Testimoni¬ 
als, may be seen at the office of the Manufacturers. 


METALLIC OILS AHD METALLIC GREASE. 
are Manufactured and Sold by 

DE LA VERGNE, YOCKNEY & CO. 

OFFICE, 36 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 










4 














I 



r 


HINTS TO ENGINEERS AND OTHERS 


FOR THE USE OP 


“CUMBERLAND BROTHERS’ PATENT METALLIC OIL,” 


FOR MACHINERY. 


There are two kinds of Metallic Oil—one designed for 
general use, and the other of a peculiar nature, which ren¬ 
ders it very durable and cooling wherever it can be properly 
applied, but requiring certain conditions for its successful ap¬ 
plication. 

The Transparent Metallic Oil is to be applied in the same 
manner as Sperm Oil, except that on account of its greater 
durability, the application should be less frequent or in less 
quantity. 

The Fluid White Metallic Oil being of the consistence 
of cream, of course will not readily feed through a wick, nor 
will it enter so small an aperture as common oil. If the 
bottom of an oil-hole, or the lower part of a journal-box, have 
sharp, close-fitting edges, the Oil will not pass between the 
moving and the stationary parts of the machinery so easily 
as is desirable. Any person of ordinary ingenuity, under¬ 
standing this difficulty, would at once devise the proper re¬ 
medy, such as having the bottom of the oil-hole countersunk , 
the cap of the journal loosened slightly, or the close-fitting 
edge filed away so that the Oil may enter in a wedge-like 
form. The entrance of the Oil being thus facilitated, the mo¬ 
tion of the machinery will drag in a proper supply. On the 
other hand, when the oil-passages are such that the bearings 
are certain to be lubricated, caution is necessary to prevent 
too copious a supply of this Oil, as any excess in the supply 
does more harm than good (aside from the unnecessary waste). 
In such cases, the means of diminishing the supply will be 
obvious ; such as stopping part of the oil-hole with a wooden 






2 


plug, if the supply is constant from an ordinary oil-cup; or, 
instead of a wooden plug, a number of small wires might be 
inserted in the oil-hole. When machinery is not adapted to 
receiving this kind of Oil, the Transparent Metallic Oil is re¬ 
commended. But the great lasting and cooling properties of 
the Fluid White Metallic Oil would abundantly compensate 
for the trouble of altering the oil-entrances, when practicable. 
This kind of Metallic Oil is also an excellent substitute for 
Tallow in Cylinders, when they require lubricating. It ought 
to be put into the Cylinder in its natural state, without any 
previous heating. If the packing of the Cylinder should be 
of hemp , and very old and gummy from the use of bad oil or 
tallow, a temporary inconvenience may be experienced from 
the Metallic Oil dissolving the gum, and thus loosening the 
packing. In such cases the use of Metallic Oil should be sus¬ 
pended till the Cylinder is re-packed. 

Either kind of Metallic Oil has the property of dissolving 
or loosening any gum on the machinery to w T hich it is applied. 
The gum thus dissolved or loosened, gives to the Metallic Oil 
thus applied, a dirty, blackish appearance; and in some situa¬ 
tions the loosened gum collects so as to obstruct the proper 
feeding of the Oil. But when all the old gum is removed, a 
fine silvery polish or coating will be formed on the rubbing 
surfaces, and the machinery will remain clean as long as the 
Metallic Oil is properly used—except that when India Rubber 
is used in the machinery, the India Bubber gum will some¬ 
times adhere to the parts which rub against it. 

Bearings lubricated with Metallic Oil sometimes seem to 
become dry very soon. But, in reality, when the bearings 
present this appearance, there is still a thin, almost impercep¬ 
tible film of the lubricating substance adhering to the bear¬ 
ings, protecting them from heating, and diminishing the fric¬ 
tion in a remarkable degree. By taking advantage of this 
property of the Metallic Oil, and abstaining from a fresh ap¬ 
plication of Oil until it is actually needed, a great saving can 
be effected in the quantity of Oil used. 

Particular benefit is to be derived from the use of Metallic 
Oil on quick-running upright Shafting and Spindles; because 


(when the supply is not too copious) it adheres to the metal so 
tenaciously that it cannot he thrown off by centrifugal force, 
and its own weight does not make it run down too rapidly. It 
cannot be easily shaken off by any jerking motion of ma¬ 
chinery. On heavy journals it is very efficacious, on ac¬ 
count of its cooling properties, and because it does not run 
away from a warm bearing, as some oils do. 

In using Metallic Oil on Spinning and Weaving Ma¬ 
chinery , (by which some of the most delicate and severe tests 
of lubricating oils are furnished) particular regard should be 
paid to the peculiar properties of Metallic Oil. For instance, 
the flier-nose of the Throstle Spinning Frame cannot be 
oiled properly when in motion , because there is no certainty 
that the Oil will reach the bearing as intended. The Metallic 
Oil has a tendency to stay on polished metal in the exact spot 
wdiere it is applied. The attraction which exists between it 
and metal, prevents it from spreading like Sperm and other 
oils. Sperm Oil will therefore sometimes find its way to a 
bearing when Metallic Oil will not. But the same property 
which makes it more difficult to apply Metallic Oil to the 
right spot, renders it more effective when the oiling is properly 
accomplished. If the Metallic Oil is applied to the flier-nose 
when at rest, one oiling per day is sufficient; and the Spindle 
of the same frame also needs but one oiling in a day, except 
where the Spindle or flier runs in cast iron , in which case two 
oilings per day are generally necessary, unless the machinery 
is of a very light character. Oiling once or twice a week is 
usually sufficient for the lower bearing or step of the Spindle. 
The front steel roller requires to be lubricated with Metallic 
Oil only two or three times a week. 

A«:ain: when Metallic Oil comes in contact with the 
washer under the Bobbin, if any viscous matter has accumu¬ 
lated on the washer from the use of bad oil, the Metallic Oil 
will loosen or soften this substance, and the working of the 
Bobbin will thereby be impeded. But if the washers are 
clean , the Metallic Oil will make the Bobbins move more 
easily, smoothly and uniformly than when Sperm Oil is used; 
and, of course, fewer threads will be broken than when the 


4 


motion is irregular. When the washers become saturated 
with Metallic Oil, it sometimes happens that the Bobbins re¬ 
volve too easily, and in other cases not easily enough. Either 
of these faults is readily remedied by substituting a washer 
and button of greater or less size ; and when the draft is thus 
once properly regulated, no re-adjustment will be necessary 
until a new washer is required. Bobbins which have been 
used some time, usually have their inner surfaces coated with 
hard gum. This gum is liable to become softened and loos¬ 
ened by the use of Metallic Oil. If this occurs to such an ex¬ 
tent as to interfere with the motion of the Bobbins, the col¬ 
lected gum should be removed. Experiments are now being 
made for the purpose of ascertaining the comparative merits 
of Metallic and other oils for soaking Bobbins. With Metal¬ 
lic Oil the process is much more rapid, and it is believed that 
Bobbins soaked in this Oil will be entirely free from gum, and 
will run much better than when prepared with any other kind 
of Oil. But the experiments have not yet been continued long 
enough to determine the fact with certainty. 

When Linseed Oil is used for soaking Bobbins, it dries so hard that the 
surface of the Bobbin which rubs against the washer becomes polished, and 
the friction is thereby reduced. The necessary consequence of this reduc¬ 
tion of friction is to prevent a uniform draft during the time one Bobbin is 
in use. 

Linseed Oil is also objectionable for soaking Bobbins; because, should the 
Spindle become dry, the consequent heat will draw the Linseed Oil from the 
Bobbin too slowly to keep the Spindle lubricated; and when drawn, the 
Linseed Oil being of a sticky nature, interferes with the free revolution of 
the Bobbin. 

Sperm Oil is objectionable for soaking Bobbins, because it has a tenden¬ 
cy to make the rims of the Bobbins rough, by lessening the toughness of the 
wood. The same effects are produced when Bobbins are soaked in Whale 
Oil, and the gummy nature of Whale Oil renders it still less desirable for 
the purpose. 

Again: when Metallic Oil is applied to the picker^rod 
of a Loom, if the picker has any gummy substance on it, (or 
even between the two thicknesses of hide of which it is com¬ 
posed) this gum is liable to be loosened by the Metallic Oil, 
and to interfere with the motion of the picker, by collecting 


5 


on the picker-rod. But when clean pickers are used, a very 
small quantity of Metallic Oil taken between the thumb and 
finger, and rubbed on the picker-rod two or three times a 
day, is all that is necessary for making the picker traverse 
easily and regularly. If any superfluity of Oil is applied, it 
will be pushed toward the end of the rod, and then drop off, 
or else serve as a nucleus for gathering dust and fibres, (if it 
is not wiped off.) Such results never occur when Metallic 
Oil is properly used; but with Sperm Oil they are almost un¬ 
avoidable, because it is very difficult to ensure a sufficient lu¬ 
brication from Sperm Oil without actually applying an excess. 
Too much Metallic Oil on the picker-rod is particularly ob¬ 
jectionable, because it is liable to form so thick a coating on 
the rod as to obstruct the motion of the picker, and because 
the picker would become so saturated with Oil, on account of 
the penetrating nature of Metallic Oil, as to admit of its being 
worn out by the shuttle sooner than it otherwise would be. 

Again : bearings sometimes appear to be perfectly free 
from gum, but on close examination a hard gum, mixed with 
rust, may be detected on those portions of the bearings where 
the friction has been slight (as in the case of spindles, which 
rub only against that side of the bearing towards which the 
band drawls them.) When Metallic Oil is applied to the gum 
and rust which have thus accumulated from the use of other 
oil, it gradually softens the gummy mixture, and with it formB 
a paste, which clings both to the moving and stationary parts 
of the machinery, and has a tendency to retard the motion. 
Sometimes this paste hardens during the night, while the ma¬ 
chinery is at rest, and almost cements the surfaces of metal to¬ 
gether so that it is quite difficult to start the machines in the 
morning. Of course, this paste must be removed before much 
advantage can be derived from the use of Metallic Oil. A 
difficulty somewhat similar to that last mentioned, is produced 
by using summer Metallic Oil in cold weather ; but the winter 
Metallic Oil will not chill at the ordinary temperature of Spin¬ 
ning and Weaving-rooms. 

When Metallic Oil is applied from a tin oiler to fine ma¬ 
chinery, in order to prevent an excessive supply, the outlet of 


6 


the oiler should not be larger than would admit a small pin. 
An oiler with a steel nose is recommended, because the outlet 
is not so liable to change of size from breaking or bruising, as 
when made from tin. 

It would be impossible to furnish minute directions for the 
best manner of oiling all kinds of machinery, and such direc¬ 
tions would be more reliable if they emanated from the con¬ 
sumers rather than from the manufacturers of oil. The fore¬ 
going details are given merely for the purpose of illustrating 
some of the properties of Metallic Oil, and it is believed that 
any practical and unprejudiced person who is acquainted with 
the nature of Metallic Oil, will readily discover the proper 
method of applying it in any case to which his attention is di¬ 
rected. 

Metallic Oil should not be exposed to a temperature lower 
than 40 deg. Fahrenheit. The Fluid White Metallic Oil is 
liable to be partially decomposed under certain circumstances. 
To prevent this, it is recommended that the Oil should be occa¬ 
sionally shaken or stirred up in the barrel or vessel containing 
it, and that it should be protected from great changes of tem¬ 
perature. If the ingredients should, by excessive cold or from 
any other cause, become so separated that clear Oil appears on 
the surface of the white compound, no part of the Oil should 
be used until a recombination is effected by thorough admix¬ 
ture. And if this remedy should not prove effectual, the Oil 
should be returned to the manufacturers, who will cheerfully 
exchange it or refund the amount paid for it. The liability 
to decomposition of the Fluid White Metallic Oil is here men¬ 
tioned, not because it is of common occurrence, but because it 
is possible • and it is desirable that those unacquainted with it 
should be instructed how to proceed in every emergency. 

There are also two kinds of Metallic Grease , viz: Hard 
White Metallic Grease, made of the finest and most carefully 
selected materials, and Blue Metallic Grease, which is a 
cheaper article, but possessing nearly the same properties. 
Both kinds of Metallic Grease are intended for lubricating cog 
gearing, *open journals of heavy shafting, and axles of all kinds 
of vehicles. Metallic Grease is applied in the same manner 


7 


as common grease, except that it should never be melted be¬ 
fore application ; or if melted , it should not be made very 
hot, and should be well mixed before applying it. Metallic 
Grease is made of various consistence to suit different custom¬ 
ers and different climates. In its most usual form, it is about 
as hard as dough. The same grease varies in its degree of 
hardness according to the temperature. That which is most 
suitable for Summer is not well adapted for Winter ^ and vice 
versa. But Metallic Grease which has a natural consistence 
suitable for Spring or Fall, maybe made to answer a good 
purpose in Summer and "Winter also, if protected against 
the extremes of heat and cold. 


Many Fire Insurance Companies have required an ad¬ 
vanced rate of premium for Insurance when chemically pre¬ 
pared Oils are used, or have restricted the Insured to the use 
of Sperm Oil. The economy of using Metallic Oil on Spin¬ 
ning and Weaving Machinery, has induced many Manufac¬ 
turers to apply to the Companies in which they are insured, 
for a removal of the prohibition as respects the Metallic Oil. 

The following are some of the Companies who have con¬ 
sented to insure parties using Metallic Oil, at the same rate of 
premium as when Sperm Oil is used: 

The Howard Ins. Co., by Lewis Phillips, Secretary. 

The Hartford Fire Ins. Co., and Connecticut Fire Ins. Co., by 
E. White, Agent. 

The Columbian Fire Ins. Co.; per order of the President, by 
E. White. 

National Fire Ins. Co., by W. C. Kellogg, Secretary. 
Commercial Fire Ins. Co., by Chas. J. Martin, Secretary. 
Equitable Ins. Co., by K. J. Thorn, President. 

Manhattan Fire Ins. Co., Hath. Richards, President. 

FTorth Western Ins. Co., Geo. Deming, Agent. 

Columbus Insurance Co., E. Fassett, Agent, by J. Sutphen. 
Lexington Ins. Co. and Merchants’ M. Ins. Co., Buffalo, J. 

Hoxie, Agent, per J. Sutphen. 

T. G. Crary, Agent Augusta Ins. and Banking Co. 

Grocers’ Fire Ins. Co., by J. Milton Smith, Secretary. 



8 


./Etna Ins. Co., by Thomas A. Alexander, Agent. 

New York Fire and Marine Insurance Co., by D, Underhill, 

Secretary. 

Protection Insurance Co., J. S. Clark, Agent. 

E. C. Finn, Secretary of Long Island Ins. Co. 

In consequence of many losses by Fire occasioned by the 
use of chemically prepared Oils, the above Companies have, 
by joint request, caused the Metallic Oil to be analyzed by 
James K. Chilton, M. D., with a view to determine its safety 
as compared with Sperm Oil. The result is the discovery, that 
the Metallic Oil contains less of those substances which are 
liable to ignite by friction, than Sperm Oil. 

Experiments made by our leading Engineers and Mech¬ 
anists, and in many instances by direction of eminent Manu¬ 
facturers, to ascertain the cooling properties of the Metallic 
Oil as a lubricator for Machinery—have also established its 
great superiority in this respect. 

The particulars of these tests and the certificates of ap¬ 
proval which were submitted to the Insurance Companies, are 
in possession of “ The Howard Insurance Co.,” New York ; 
and other Insurance Companies to whom Manufacturers may 
apply, are referred to u The Howard Ins. Co.” and also to E. 
White, Esq., Agent in New York for “The Hartford Fire 
Ins. Co.” and “ Connecticut Fire Ins. Co.” 

Copies of the Certificates which are held by “The Howard 
Insurance Co.,” and numerous other Testimonials, may be seen 
at the office of the Manufacturers. 


METALLIC OIL AND METALLIC GEEASE 

are Manufactured and Sold by 

BE LA VERGNE, YOCKNEY & CO. 

OFFICE, 36 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 


























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• 


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